The Kansas City Chiefs have some housekeeping to do ahead of the NFL’s free agency period.
Some of that housekeeping includes decisions on contract options for three players. The Chiefs have already decided they won’t pick up the option for offensive lineman Cam Erving. Now, the team has come to a decision on a key player.
According to a new report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Kansas City plans to pick up the club option for RB Damien Williams. The option will cost them $2.3 million, which is a deal considering the role Williams has played during the past two postseasons with the Chiefs. He’s recorded 355 rushing yards, 185 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns in just five postseason games appearances with Kansas City. Most importantly, Williams had the game-sealing touchdown in Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers.
The #Chiefs plan to pick up the contract option for RB Damien Williams, source said, keeping the player who rushed for 104 yards in the Super Bowl in the fold. Williams will make $2.3M in 2020.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2020
Williams first joined the Chiefs in free agency in 2018. He’s appeared in 27 regular-season games since then, starting in nine of them. He was named the starting RB for Kansas City ahead of the 2019 NFL season by offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. However, Williams took a backseat to LeSean McCoy early in the season after suffering an injury.
By the end of the 2019 season, the usage of Williams suggests he earned the starting role again. He’ll play a significant part in the rushing attack in the 2020 season if healthy, but the lack of a long-term deal suggests the Chiefs may opt for a different route after the 2020 season.
The Chiefs have one more decision to make regarding option years. That decision is on LB Damien Wilson, who is due to make $2.7 million in 2020.