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The Kansas City Chiefs running back situation heading into the 2012 season seems fairly straight-forward -- Jamaal Charles, Peyton Hillis and Dexter McCluster. With Hillis on just a one-year deal, the Chiefs have to look past 2012 when it comes to the NFL draft.
Maybe that's the reason they hosted Boise State running back Doug Martin for a visit. Aaron Wilson of Scout.com reports Martin visited the Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns.
Martin is starting to become the No. 2 running back in the draft behind Alabama's Trent Richardson. He's considered a borderline first round pick so the Chiefs may be hoping he falls to their second round pick.
At 223 pounds and putting up 28 reps on the bench press, he could be a nice complement to Charles.
He's been a solid starter at Boise State gaining over 1,200 yards rushing in each of the last two seasons. He also has 28 receptions in each of the last two seasons.
NFL Network's Mike Mayock likes him a lot, too.
The Chiefs have had Thomas Jones over the last two seasons but he's a free agent. Hillis will fill that role in 2012 but the Chiefs need to have a solution for 2013 and beyond. The running back position has been devalued but I don't have a problem with the Chiefs using a pick on a position they'll rely so heavily on in the coming years.
On the other hand, I generally don't want to encourage the Chiefs to do things that takes the ball out of Jamaal Charles' hands.