The Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs may have made the most surprise pick of the 2020 NFL Draft by selecting former LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire with the 32nd overall pick.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a say in who the team should pick at No. 32, and he vouched for the selection to be Edwards-Helaire.
The Chiefs rookie tailback would have been a backup this season, until starting running back Darrel Williams opted out of the season. That opened the door for Edwards-Helaire to be the No. 1 tailback in camp and most likely take the first reps during Week 1 on September 10.
Edwards-Helaire signed a rookie deal worth $10.8 million over four years. On the plus side, he will get an early chance to prove to the coaching staff why he is worth that deal.
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Being a starting running back in the NFL as a rookie is obviously no easy task, but he possesses great skills and attributes that will allow him to be a viable asset to a pass-heavy Chiefs offense.
The Chiefs will utilize Edwards-Helaire often in the running game, but more likely in a pass protection scheme. At LSU, he was excellent in blocking for quarterback Joe Burrow during passing situations.
In his first year, Edwards-Helaire could rush for 700-900 yards. He likely won’t hit the 1,000-yard mark due to the fact that the Kansas City offense could be pass-heavy again. He should be expected to have anywhere from 5-10 rushing touchdowns in 2020.
The team signed Mahomes to a 10-year extension, and they aren’t going to run the ball 95% of the time with one of the top signal-callers in the league.
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Edwards-Helaire will share the load with former LSU running back Spencer Ware, who has been with the team for a few seasons now.
It will be interesting to see how many yards and touchdowns Edwards-Helaire runs for as the season progresses.
The Chiefs open their season against the Houston Texans on September 10.
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