The Kansas City Chiefs head into the offseason looking to re-tool their roster for the 2022 NFL season. The goal is to get the team to Super Bowl LVII after falling short of that goal in 2021 and they’ll be looking to improve the roster in a number of different areas. They’ll also be looking to retain some talent that impressed during the 2021 NFL season.
After drafting Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft, Chiefs GM Brett Veach didn’t invest much in the running back position for the 2021 NFL season. In fact, he actually weakened the position group by cutting former Super Bowl hero Damien Williams, who opted out of the 2020 NFL season.
Veach made just two meaningful additions, first signing Derrick Gore on a reserve/future contract in February ahead of Super Bowl LV. He also signed RB Jerick McKinnon on a one-year prove-it deal, using the veteran salary benefit to save money on his salary-cap charge.
Given McKinnon’s extensive injury history, the team wasn’t willing to pay a premium, but they were willing to give him a shot to earn his keep. The veteran halfback is now slated to become a free agent when the new league year begins in March, but will the Chiefs attempt to re-sign him?
The first 10 weeks of the 2021 NFL season weren’t exactly the most fruitful for McKinnon. He recorded just seven carries for 38 yards and 10 receptions on 15 targets for 81 yards. He was playing the majority of his snaps on special teams and when he did start to see action on offense, he wasn’t frequently given the ball. Following a breakthrough performance in Week 10 against the Raiders, McKinnon suffered a hamstring injury on the coverage unit on special teams. He spent the entire month of December on injured reserve, before eventually returning to action in Week 17.
In Week 18 against the Denver Broncos, Clyde Edwards-Helaire was still recouping from a shoulder injury. Darrel Williams drew the start but suffered a toe injury during the course of the game. As a result, McKinnon managed eight touches for 50 yards and a receiving touchdown. It was his most impressive performance in Kansas City to date. Ultimately, that performance earned him the opportunity to start throughout the playoffs. It was his big break.
During the win-or-go-home games, McKinnon had 48 touches for 315 yards and a touchdown, turning heads in the process. Not only was the production there, but McKinnon looked like the most natural fit as a three-down running back as the Chiefs had on the team all season long. His speed, quickness and acceleration added a dynamic element to the offense that it simply lacked beforehand.
So will McKinnon be back with the Chiefs in 2022?
Technically, the Chiefs only have Edwards-Helaire and reserve/future signing Brenden Knox under contract for 2022. They’ll likely retain Gore, who is set to be an exclusive rights free agent. But you can’t go into the season with just a trio of running backs.
The one thing that Chiefs fans learned this season (if they hadn’t already) is that you can never have enough capable running backs. Edwards-Helaire was injured twice during the course of the season. Williams and McKinnon both dealt with injuries as well. It’s possible that the team opts for an upgrade over both McKinnon (and Williams) during free agency or the draft. That said, I don’t think they’d be opposed to bringing McKinnon back on another one-year deal knowing that injuries happen frequently and that he’s capable of stepping up into that main role if necessary.