Lisa Foxx
The Kansas City Chiefs had a big problem with their wide receiving corps last season. Despite that, the Chiefs still won the Super Bowl. The Chiefs General Manager, Brett Veach, has since added veteran free agent Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and rookie 1st round pick, Xavier Worthy, to the team. Along with 2nd-year man Rashee Rice, the Wide Receiving corp looks strong.
This year, as the Chiefs go for the Super Bowl record three-peat, it’s their running back room that has questions.
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Isiah Pacheco
Isiah Pacheco is the Chiefs RB1. He’s going into his 3rd year as the starting RB and is the only starting RB who has won two Super Bowl rings in as many years. “Pop”, as he’s known, is a hard runner and a dynamic playmaker. His style is one that is immediately recognizable, with his choppy stride and high knee lift. He’s been described as running like he’s angry at the ground. He always gives 100%, which is what every team wants in a running back. But the question this year is who’s backing up Pop?
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
The Chiefs brought back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (CEH) to help in the backfield. CEH is their former first-round draft pick. The team chose not to pick up his 5th year option; nevertheless, the Chiefs made the offer and Clyde accepted.
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CEH showed last year, and the year prior, that he has grown as a player and as a person. CEH accepted his role as RB3 without complaining and without drama. He has been highly supportive of his fellow RBs despite his demotion. Clyde’s pass protection has gotten much better and his ability to hit the gaps the O-line produces has also improved. He has been more productive in the last two years than he was in his first three. CEH comes back as the team says goodbye to Jerick McKinnon.
McKinnon is still an unsigned free agent and one of the best pass pro backs in the league. He is a wily vet who is able to read defenses and is patient in the running game. He is an elite protector and will be missed in the backfield. So, who with McKinnon gone who will be RB3? That’s the question on most Chiefs fans’ minds.
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Deneric Prince
Deneric Prince is a guy the Chiefs picked up in the UDFA market last year. He looked good in his preseason game last year and played in 2 regular-season games. The 24-year-old has been getting some first-team reps in training camp. Prince brings athleticism and size to the position, something the team is currently lacking. He also has speed to go along with his size and ability and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds.
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Keaontay Ingram
Keaontay Ingram is a former sixth-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals. He joined the Chiefs in November of 2023 where he spent time on the practice squad. He came in as a sort of insurance policy when CEH was injured last season. He signed a Reserve/Futures contract with the team this past February.
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Louis Rees-Zammit
Louis Rees-Zammit (LRZ) is a 23 year old former Welsh Rugby player who decided to hang up his cleats… as a Rugby star… to pursue his dream of playing American football. LRZ has been working in training camp as a WR, RB and a Special Teams returner as well as a kick-off kicker.
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The former Rugby winger has blazing speed, having been clocked at over 24 mph. He’s also used to contact sports, which is a plus. What he’s not familiar with… is American football. Despite his elite athleticism, LRZ is still new to the game. He came through the International Players Pathway organization and has had a crash course on the game. If he’s able to learn pass protection and hitting the gaps in the O-line, LRZ could be a dangerous weapon for the Chiefs.
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Carson Steele
Carson Steele is a UDFA out of UCLA. Steele averaged over 5-yds per carry during his college career. He has gained a lot of buzz this off-season in Chiefs Kingdom and is known as a tough, hard-hitting RB. Could he possibly take McKinnon’s place in pass pro and in 3rd down situations? It is possible, but he has a lot to learn in both areas.
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A video on social media (see above) showing Steele catching a Mahomes behind-the-back pass has helped with his popularity among Chiefs Kingdom fans.
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Kadarius Toney
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Football Forever HQ – Photo Credit
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One unexpected name added to the RB mix is Kadarius Toney. The 4th year WR had major problems with dropping passes last year and was effectively benched for most of the season.
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However, coaches can’t ignore his incredible athleticism and his amazing play-making ability. Coach Reid recognizes this and isn’t giving up on him. The goal is to put Toney in a role where he can excel. He’s super twitchy and has the potential to be a star on the field (0:05).
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Is Kadarius Toney durable enough to contribute for a full season? That is the question. If he can stay healthy, Toney on the field can be a game-changer, whatever his role. OC Matt Nagy says that Kadarius Toney is a “weapon” out of the backfield and that they’ll use him in various spots. Sounds like a gadget approach, at best a Taysom Hill type position player. Andy Reid says:
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“… they’ve been giving Kadarius Toney RB snaps
during camp because they saw positive moments
there last year. Reid believes Toney enjoys playing
that role, so the team is going to try to utilize it to
the best of his ability at training camp.”
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RB Summary
Regardless of who wins the position, RB#3 will likely also play a big role on Special Teams. With the new kickoff rules in effect this season, an opportunity has been created for players to separate themselves from each other. It’s also possible that more than one of these players makes the team because of the new kickoff rules.
Our first look at the squad — and the RB position — will be during the Chiefs first pre-season game against the Jaguars. They will travel to Jacksonville on Saturday, August 10th.
Which RB do you think will make the 53-man squad?
Training camp for the Chiefs continues in St. Joseph, Missouri, through August 15th. Today is an off day but the pads come on tomorrow. Should be interesting!
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Lisa Foxx
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