We previewed the offseason and free agency for the Chiefs quarterbacks earlier this week. Today we look at the Chiefs running backs.
For the first time in a while there's some uncertainty with the Chiefs running backs but in a good way. Most years we look at this section and just say, "Jamaal Charles is the man." And that's about it.
This year, the Chiefs have two players to add to the mix. Charcandrick West is most like Jamaal so when I think of Jamaal coming back next season I think of a smaller role for West. If Jamaal needs to be spelled as he goes along in his career or if he gets hurt next season, the Chiefs have West to step in. West is an exclusive rights free agent but the Chiefs are likely to bring him back.
I'm more interested in seeing how Spencer Ware fits in. He presents a different skill set than either Jamaal or West have. It's not just short yardage; Ware has some wiggle to him and merits more carries next season. I'm not saying the Chiefs are going to stop throwing the ball but the running game has to be recognized as a potential strength of this team.
Who else? The Chiefs went weeks at a time without using Knile Davis on offense so it also wouldn't shock me if they moved on. However, if you forget his fumble in the Patriots game and remember his touchdown in the Texans game, as well as his cheap rookie contract, he probably makes sense to bring back.
Darrin Reaves ended the season on the practice squad and signed a reserve / futures deal. If Davis doesn't return then there could be another spot available on the active roster. The Chiefs are likely to add another player to this group, perhaps an undrafted player or a low-end free agent.
The other big question we should address here is Jamaal's future. He is under contract after signing a new deal last season but some people look at his $5.3 million cap number and wonder if the Chiefs wouldn't be better off cutting bait, especially after West and Ware did well enough without him. I see that point but I'm not there yet. Jamaal has been too good of a player for me to consider that. He's 29 years old. It's reasonable to think he has a couple of good seasons left in him. If his cap number were over $10 million then maybe you have me thinking. But his current one is affordable considering the type of player he can be.