RB has an argument for being our biggest team need
 

Man it’s bad. Like really bad. Really really really bad.

The Chiefs have the least explosive RB room in the NFL. Only 17 explosive plays from RB’s. Pacheco is the most explosive guy, and he’s been a good soldier here, but he’s not the guy. Excellent change of pace back, but his vision is bad and his lateral agility isn’t good either.

I love Kareem but he’s winding down. He’s 30 next year and you could see the wheels start to come off with usage.

I think we should consider a RB rd 1 if the board gets dicey, but ideally we sign someone like Ty Johnson from Buffalo. Also to preface this I think LT is numero uno for us and this is a scenario where one is just not attainable.

Everyone gets so mad at this offense and blames coaching but the pieces have just not been there. The truth is this team badly misses Jerrick McKinnon. They’ve gotten some of that from Perine but it’s just not enough.

We got 1 TD from a RB in the passing game this year. Compare that to:

2023: 7
2022: 12
2021: 5

Major major drop in production there that has killed the offense. I see these playoff teams with quality backs and it’s helped them tremendously.

Getting an explosive, dynamic playmaking RB has to be a major priority. It could change the entire offense and help soften the blow of losing Kelce (eventually) and working on LT

I know we won't be in range of a Jahmyr Gibbs level talent (aka Jamaal Charles), nor should that position be our first round selection, but you're right - an explosive running back would completely change this offense.

We seem to have solved our short-yardage issue from 2023, but we need someone with burst to turn a 2 yard run into a 7+ yard run. We don't have that.

We've been trying to manufacture some of this with Worthy, but the issue with him is that he goes down on first contact every time because he's 160 pounds.

I'd love to see Mahomes operate with a RB with elite burst.

Luckily, it’s a position that can be fixed relatively quickly.

Rookie RBs can contribute right away. There’s seemingly always a free agent RB who becomes a steal for someone.

I’m sure Pacheco will be back. Add a mid round back (Devin Neal remains my guy). Snag a free agent.

Of course, if a top back falls to us earlier in the draft, I wouldn’t hate it.

This draft is full of good options. Just have to use one of our top 4 picks on one of them.

IMO... OT is far and away the team's most urgent need. G becomes a major question mark if Trey Smith walks in FA. Protecting Mahomes and giving him time to throw is more important than finding an RB.

Pacheco, for as much as I love the dude, has next to no vision and loves stuffing his helmet into the back of one of his linemen. That said, he is still young enough that he can be taught and improve. But he definitely needs a counterpart... a lightning to his thunder. Either FA or the 3rd round will provide the RB.

Focus on the OL.

I wouldn't be surprised to see use our 2nd round pick or the early round 3 pick from the Titans for Sneed on a RB. Should be some good ones available then.

I believe you don't box yourself in by saying I can't get a particular player before a particular round. If a RB is there in round two that makes your team better than a G or T, then you take the RB. Lions took Gibbs in round 1 and they already signed Montgomery and it has worked out greatly for them. Now they have a good O-Line so maybe it's not a fair comparison but if you can get a player that has that effect on your team, you grab him.

The LT issues is perplexing. Very complicated because there is no clear cut solution.

If we're being honest, I'd get in my time machine and go back and pay Orlando Brown Jr the 4 year 64M dollar deal he signed with the Bengals. He's not perfect, but he's a hell of a lot better than what we've been doing the last two years.

If you can fix it in the draft you have to pull the trigger. Long term, that's the best option. My fear is that it will be difficult for the Chiefs to move around and get the guy they want. Also making life difficult is the fact that this draft has some nice talent at positions of need. DT, RB, Edge, L etc. Not sure I want to spend draft capital moving up. But with Arch Manning out there, I wonder if you could dangle our 2026 first rounder in exchange for something. I don't know. Seems a little too video game for me to understand.

I’m sold, let’s trade up for Jeanty!

Resign Kareem Hunt for peanuts.

Problem solved.

Only need to run the ball for short yardage or when winning by two scores anyway.

Going to submit a different opinion….i think our run scheme sucks.

Especially in short yardage when we’re in shotgun.

I like Dylan Sampson (Tennessee), Jordan James (Oregon), or Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State) with out second round pick

I’d like to resign Hunt as well, but you still need to add a young back to replace him and probably Pachecco the following year.

There’s a lot to like this year! A few I like that I’ll throw out are Johnson, Henderson, Sampson, Harvey, & Smith.

Some 5th or 6th rounder will do

RB is a need, but there is no need greater than Left Tackle.

It's bad indeed CB outside of McDuffie is shit too

A RB has to have an exceptional set of traits for me to consider them in the 1st or 2nd round. Gibbs was one of those guys. Henderson is one of those guys this year for me but I don't have it in me to pound the table for a guy in round 1 again. If Henderson is there at pick 2 or pick 3A, then yeah. Honestly, Henderson is the exact type of back I could see Jerry Jones going all in on in round 1 even if he might not appear to have round 1 grades. The kid is going to probably run a 4.38 and he can do it all.

This is a loaded RB class. The Senior Bowl is going to feature some interesting cats. I want to see Bhayshul Tuten (Virginia Tech) who I like a bunch and Marcus Yarns (Delaware) who has the speed for days. The rest are a great set with Cam Skattebo (Arizona State), Jarquez Hunter (Auburn), R.J. Harvey (UCF), Trevor Etienne (Georgia), Devin Neal (Kansas), Damien Martinez (Miami), Donovan Edwards (Michigan), Kalel Mullings (Michigan), Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State), Brashard Smith (SMU), and Woody Marks (USC) and none of these aren't even the top dogs in the class.

Overall, I don't think we have to hunt for an RB in this one. There will be options at our 3rd and 4th round picks.

Don't get the Henderson love at all

You're a Nebraska fan.

Nobody expects you to know what talented college players look like.

I agree and don’t want to take one I. The first or second. We don’t need too. What you can’t to is expect that a 7th rounder (Pop) and an UFA (Steel) is all you need to pair with CEH who has had major availability issues.

Also agree with this. There may well be a drop off after Henderson, but I don't think it's enough for me to want to use an early asset. Judkins, Kaleb Johnson, Neal, even a guy like Jordan James at Oregon. There's a LOT. They may not all fit as well, or be as rounded, but plenty that can contribute and make this team better, imo.

Kaleb Johnson. :drool:

Tuten is someone who popped out at me, too!

I thought I saw he had decided to return to school, though.

Devin Neal is gonna end up being a really good NFL back.

ROFL ****ing savage drive-by on ol Billay.

He looks the part. It'll be interesting to see how he tests. Sometimes Big 12 film doesn't translate to real athletes. He also has a fair bit of miles.

This is me being an uberdouchehomer trying to temper myself.

I’m not sure what’s worse, your football takes or last call decision making.

Good news

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The good news is this RB draft class is the bee&#39;s knees.<br><br>There are 30+ backs in this class with legit draftable grades. <a href="https://t.co/e1OYW68eGP">https://t.co/e1OYW68eGP</a></p>&mdash; Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) <a href="https://twitter.com/dpbrugler/status/1881870627696726343?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I'll guess around 30 with draftable grades. I'm sure the bottom of the list might have some differences but this should end up pretty damned close. Not necessarily my rankings here...

01. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
02. Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
03. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
04. Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
05. Cameron Skattebo, Arizona State
06. Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
07. Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
08. Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
09. RJ Harvey, UCF
10. Devin Neal, Kansas
11. D.J. Giddens, Kansas State
12. Kyle Monagai, Rutgers
13. Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
14. Jarquez Hunter, Auburn
15. Raheim Sanders, South Carolina
16. Damien Martinez, Miami
17. Jo'Quavious Marks, USC
18. Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech
19. Kalel Mullings, Michigan
20. Donovan Edwards, Michigan
21. Marcus Yarns, Delaware
22. Brashard Smith, SMU
23. Roman Hemby, Maryland
24. Jordan James, Oregon
25. LeQuint Allen Jr, Syracuse
26. Corey Kiner, Cincinnati
27. Mario Anderson, Memphis
28. Phil Mafah, Clemson
29. Ja'Quinden Jackson, Arkansas
30. Montrell Johnson, Florida
31. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Arizona
32. Nate Noel, Missouri
33. Tre Stewart, Jacksonville State

2.5 ypc and he didn't do much better against your tigers. Was a no show every game against Michigan too

You think our corners outside of McDuffie are good? Did you watch this season at all?

Now here's a good write up. Ollie Gordon seems forgotten but he very well could be the best back in this draft. Played with alot of injuries this year IIRC. Martinez is another guy who's been productive everywhere hes been bigger back.

I think he could be the guy, Johnson or Henderson would be my early RB targets if we’re taking one high.

It's crazy to think that there might be as many as 15 RBs in this class that would normally get day 2 grades.

We deserve and should have an RB out of the top ten on that list. I don't think any team in the league has invested less than us, and maybe Dallas, at the position and it SHOWS

What do you guys think of Skattebo? Is he this year’s Carson Steele? He’s got more lateral agility and some pass-catching chops so I don’t mean it literally, but what I mean is he just a college star that won’t be as impactful in the pros or do you truly believe in him to the point you’d be willing to select him?

Hell of a college player somewhere between Toby Gehart & Mike Alstott

Oh I'd select him. he's got great contact balance and he's far quicker, far more agile, and faster than Steele. He actually reminds me of Kareem Hunt but maybe an even better receiving back.

This. He's a bit of a poor man's CMC.

Judkins reminds me of a juiced up Kareem.. am I off on that?

I personally would love a home run hitter.. I miss the Jamaal Charles days dearly

Idk with skatteboo I see a lot of Cody schrader and he never played this year. Led the sec in rushing and was a big bruising white tailback. Skatteboo might be slightly better because of his receiving but he worries me.

He runs in the 4.6 range has issued with fumble and doesn't pass protect well im not getting your kareem hunt comparison

Its not our biggest need, but it is an easy opportunity to improve the offense overnight, and the best thing is that there are 5 or 6 guys that would great great fits. There is no need to over draft because you want/need one.

Dylan Sampson’s the back that surprised me with some Kareem to his game, had heard he was a speed back but plays with balance too.

And if you can’t grab Henderson or Johnson or it’s just too early to go RB he’s a great call back option.

The dude has never had a fumble in his career so I'm not sure where the fumble issues statement comes from. Hunt ran a 4.60. Steele ran 4.77 for comparison. Hunt and Skattebo are about identical in size at 5'11" 215. Skattebo runs with great balance, like Hunt.

Now if he goes to the combine and runs around a 4.8, no I wouldn't touch him. But if he runs a 4.65 or lower, yeah I'd take that kid in the middle rounds easily.

I mean, look at 1k rushers this year and you'll a few in that 4.6-4.65 range... Kyren Williams and Josh Jacobs come to mind

He's never fumbled?

https://x.com/BDenny29/status/184767...LLZxobnGQ&s=19

Yeah I'd take a flyer on him in the middle rounds as well

Alot of differing data on him fumbling or not...

https://www.espn.com/college-footbal...1/cam-skattebo

https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/players/321989/

https://www.statmuse.com/cfb/player/...5/career-stats

https://fantasydata.com/ncaa-footbal...ntasy/50060622

https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-...skattebo/stats

So it appears that major outlets have not given him any but the others do, which I was unaware of. Sports-Reference doesn't give fumble data on college players.

Anyhow, if he has 5 fumbles over the past two seasons with 1 lost, I'd hardly call it a major issue.

Not sure he’d ever fully utilize them correctly, but could you imagine this offense with a Saquon Barkley at RB? Not sure this team will be able to address LT anytime soon and who knows when Pat will get over his yips, but give this team a truly dominant rushing attack and it could mostly mask the weaknesses in the passing game.

The more I reflect on this, the more I think RB is no where near our biggest need. OL, DL, LB, CB, WR all bigger needs for sure, as it stands.

RB is an area where it would be relatively easy to get better, sure. But if the O line regresses once Trey walks, that could offset any benefit of a better back.

It's not

They need a CB/DE/DT before they think about a RB, but I'm a full on BPA guy now. Just keep taking good player.

Pick 66 please

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kansas RB Devin Neal continues to impress on Day 3 of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SeniorBowl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SeniorBowl</a><br><br> <a href="https://t.co/loFN7zLV5D">pic.twitter.com/loFN7zLV5D</a></p>&mdash; Thor Nystrom (@thorku) <a href="https://twitter.com/thorku/status/1885042369084485874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Will be the most interesting pick this year I think.

Hoof. That's pretty nasty.

I'm a super douche homer for Neal. I'm trying to tamp it down, but mother****er I'd watch him on Satudays and the Chiefs on Sundays, and long for him to be in red.

I'll admit, he needs to test well and he has a fair bit of miles on his tread, but **** it. Draft the kid.

Trade every draft pick to move up for Devin Neal if needed.

Okay maybe don’t do that.

If he’s there in the third though. Maybe a slight reach, but worth it.

You can homer for Neal. I will homer for Johnson. Maybe one of us will get what we want. :thumb:

Since we're all homering, I'll homer for Henderson then.

The RB class is stacked.

My question is which of these guys is going to go in the 7th or UDFA and still make an impact on an NFL team?

Still kind of waiting on consensus ranking to come into play but a few I've seen with low grades that might be some quality are these:

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Arizona (look @ Alabama State and New Mexico + E/W Shrine)
Corey Kiner, Cincinnati
Phil Mafah, Clemson
Micah Bernard, Utah
Ja'Quinden Jackson, Arkansas
Montrell Johnson, Florida
Mario Anderson, Memphis
Peny Boone, UCF (look @ his last year at Toledo)
LeQuint Allen Jr., Syracuse

If you're kind of looking for "the guy" that we think could be a steal and not the laundry list I gave... I'm on the Phil Mafah train. He's got good vision, good size, and is pretty solid in all aspects. I just don't like his long speed but when we're talking about a guy in the 7th or UDFA then there is a reason he isn't going in the 3rd or 4th so they are missing something.

Henderson's blitz pick up should lock him in for day 2 or earlier. He's never coming off the field. Don't really care how he times unless it completely goes against his tape.

He's been clocked as fast as 4.38 at OSU. I can't imagine he runs any slower than 4.45 inside a dome with months to prepare.

I don't think it matters. His film is enough. The 2nd gear is evident. Position drills, medicals, and interviews are all the scouts/teams probably care about with him. Everything else is mere formality.

Biggest team need? Not even close. IMHO. LT is clearly the biggest need.

Oh I 100% agree. I'm just stating that he actually is fast fast and it's been timed before. He's gonna scoot.

I'd just take Henderson at 31 I guess.

Damn I like him but at 32 idk..

Man I’ve watched highlights of several of the guys you all have talked about but nobody else looks like Jeanty my lord. His vision, tackle breaking and elite pull away speed are sweet. Henderson looks to have some burst and I wouldn’t mind a big back like Kaleb Johnson but if somehow jeanty falls I would be pumped.

The guy I'm starting to like more and more for this team as a mid-round player is Jarquez Hunter from Auburn. I like his vision, he's got good speed, he can catch the ball, he has some good contact balance and he always seems to be moving forward.

I think he gets below 4.4.

Somebody beat me to him in the "My guy" thread and I'm not ENTIRELY sold on taking him in the 1st. But man, if he got to the mid-2nd, I'd be looking to trade up to around 50 to get him without much hesitation.

I think he's going to be really really good.

And yeah, there's absolutely a scenario where he's my favorite guy on the board in the 1st.

I'm going to end up with the same unhealthy fascination I ended up having with Rashee Rice. He's just damn near perfect for what I want to add to this offense.

If we take a RB high, would you consider trading Pachecco?

Hunt, Henderson, Perine, Steele

I'd look to trade Pacheco anyway that's a car with 200k miles on it I would be surprised if he'd fetch you much tho

I am so torn on Henderson at 32. I love the kid. Think he’d be a perfect fit here, however:

-we did win 15 games with the worst RB room in the league
-we don’t utilize a RB that much compared to other positions
-RB is very easy to find i.e. Williams, McKinnon etc
-we won’t and shouldn’t pay a RB a 2nd contract in this offense
-RB class is loaded. Is a RB at 66 from this class that much worse than him?

Idk. I think a DL, OT or damn near any other position would be a better investment at 32.

Wouldn’t bitch if they did take him though

Henderson to me is the ideal Chris Jones pick. If somehow we moved down, I know we wont, Id love him mid second.

As I typed that it sounded dumb. Might as well take him and get the 5th if the team views him that way. Similar to FAU. If he's a second rounder and your second rounder just pull the trigger.

This. Jamaal Charles was a 3rd round pick. So was Kareem.

Consensus big boards from mock drafts right now have Henderson at 64 as the 4th RB behind Jeanty (10), Omarion Hampton of UNc (46), Kaleb Johnson of Iowa (62).

With that in mind, if I get to 32 and Hampton and Johnson are still on the board, too, I would definitely consider trading back 10 picks or so and grabbing an extra 4th and seeing where I’m at when that comes up. And then maybe moving again if I can if it gets to 42 and those 3 dudes are still there.

21-60 are all about the same grade level guys in this draft, though, so that might make it hard to move around.

Jaydon Blue anyone? Might be good to go back to the Sark well in Texas. 6 ft 200 lbs, good vision and boy is he fast

Henderson sure looks like the perfect Andy Reid RB to me.

That's it. That's my post.

I think the SB showed that there's no argument where the biggest need is and it ain't RB.

It's not the biggest but it's still up there, RB talent on this team is shit. A James Cook or Chase Brown on this roster would have helped so much, assuming Reid would actually run it of course.