With the NFL Draft swiftly approaching, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs normal supervisor Brett Veach spoke to members of the media on Thursday afternoon, discussing quite a lot of subjects — together with the uncertainty surrounding two Kansas Metropolis operating backs..
He first addressed with the upcoming fifth-year possibility for Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The 24-year-old again was the final participant chosen within the first spherical of the 2020 NFL Draft. The crew solely has till Might 2 — every week from Tuesday — to resolve whether or not the Chiefs will hold him for the 2024 season, during which the operating again would carry a cap hit of $5.5 million.
“We’ve got a while right here, so we’ll see,” Veach mentioned of the crew’s choice. “I simply assume we’ll undergo the draft.”
The explosive operating again out of Louisiana State College was anticipated to be a mainstay within the Chiefs’ high-powered offense for years to return. However a mix of accidents, an absence of development (and higher choices turning into out there) led to his dashing yards reducing in every of his three years with the crew, culminating in a career-low 302 dashing yards in 2022. Edwards-Helaire’s long-term future with the crew is now in query.
“I don’t assume we’ve reached a choice on something but,” continued Veach. “However [it’s] secure to say that after we get by way of the draft, we’ll take a look at our board and take a look at our offseason enterprise that now we have to take care of — some completely different gamers and contract stuff — and we’ll deal with all that after the draft.”
Veach additionally talked in regards to the standing of operating again Jerick McKinnon. The veteran again fashioned a dynamic duo with rookie Isiah Pacheco final season, appearing because the lightning to the rookie’s hard-hitting thunder.
Particularly, McKinnon’s excellence within the passing recreation was on full show as he completed the common season with an incredible stretch of six consecutive video games with at the very least one receiving landing.
“Yeah, I believe there have been some talks with Jerick,” Veach mentioned of the free agent’s standing. “He’s definitely a man that we love and tremendously admire. I believe this falls [in] the same trajectory [to] final 12 months — the place I believe Jerick simply likes to take his time and make it possible for he’s able to go each bodily and mentally. I believe the timeline final 12 months was proper after the draft [when] we have been capable of get with him.
“And so I believe as soon as we get previous subsequent weekend, I believe we’ll double up with quite a lot of these guys which may nonetheless have an opportunity to be on this roster.”
