While the Chiefs have more reinforcements on the way for their passing game with the return of Rashee Rice in Week 7, one analyst believes the team could use more help on the ground. The Chiefs have struggled to establish a running game at times, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes serving as the most effective rusher through the first month.
That could change with the addition of a 7,000-yard rusher who could be an affordable buy at the NFL trade deadline.
SI.com’s Matt Verderame cooked up potential trades for all 32 NFL teams ahead of the deadline, suggesting the Chiefs could land New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara for a fifth-round pick. Verderame noted that Kansas City’s passing game will likely continue to improve, and Kamara can do the same for the rushing attack.
With Xavier Worthy back and Rashee Rice due back from suspension in Week 7, the Chiefs don’t need receiving help. However, they could use serious help in the run game,” Verderame wrote. Kansas City’s running backs are averaging 3.5 yards per carry, with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt both slated to become free agents. “
Verderame added that it would be an easy decision if the Chiefs could add the multi-talented Kamara, who has more than 7,000 rushing and 4,800 receiving yards in his career. Though he has seen a dip in production in recent years, Kamara would still be the best tailback in Kansas City’s backfield.
If the Chiefs can acquire Kamara from New Orleans for a late-round pick, it’s a no-brainer,” Verderame wrote. “Kansas City has only $3 million in cap space, but Kamara’s cap hit is a proration of $2.9 million before a nonguaranteed 11.5 million next year. Through four games, Kamara has 256 rushing yards and a touchdown.”
If the Chiefs aim to add some rushing help at the upcoming trade deadline, they could have some other targets in mind. ESPN’s Dan Graziano suggested that the Jacksonville Jaguars could look into trading running back Travis Etienne Jr. as part of a months-long shakeup in the backfield that started with the trade of Tank Bigsby.
The Jaguars drafted Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round of this year’s draft and then took passing-down back LeQuint Allen Jr. in the seventh,” Graziano noted. Those two probably form the future of the team’s backfield; Jacksonville already traded Tank Bigsby to the Eagles. If the Jaguars fall out of contention and want to get a longer look at their rookies, Etienne and his $6.143 million salary would probably be pretty easy to move.
Others have suggested the Chiefs could target Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane, as the Dolphins are expected to move into selling mode. The season-ending injury to wide receiver Tyreek Hill could complicate Miami’s plans, however, as the team is now short of talent on offense and their win over the New York Jets has kept them on the fringes of playoff contention.
