a potential McKinnon replacement
 

Mina Kimes shared this guys video today. I'm an idiot and don't know how to embed videos, but check Keaton Mitchell out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy__qnfoAAA

Yep. I like him as a late round RB. Have to see how he pass protects though.

A little small but I've seen some suggest he could be converted to WR which would definitely be intriguing.

Looks like Clyde to me. (Clyde the prospect, not Clyde the Chief.)

Call me crazy, but I kinda think we have that guy already in Jerrion Ealy. Am I the only one high on Ealy?

No I really liked Ealy. Don't think he's as good in pass-pro but I also thought he was a McKinnon replacement.

Just asking, but is there a particular reason we believe McKinnon won't be a Chief next season?

Could be a number of reasons.

1. He's 30 years old and looked a little slower in the playoffs.
2. He may have priced himself out of our range with his performance last year.
3. Veach just may want to get younger at the position.

I mentioned Mitchell in the Pacheco thread; I do like him but he's pretty damn small.

I still think a perfect McKinnon replacement and Pacheco complement is probably Jahmyr Gibbs.

I don't feel like Ealy will be able to stand up in pass pro.

I'd almost consider a WR conversion there.

But he'll be gone by 63, and I don't see us taking a RB before the 3rd.

Think so?

I haven't really looked at any projections yet. I figured a guy who kinda split carries most of the season would be more of a mid-late 3rd rounder. Especially when you can't always trust the tape with 'Bama backs given how physically dominant their OLs can be.

But yeah, I ain't using a 2nd on him. He really would be a hell of a fit here, though. He and Pacheco would be about an ideal pairing.

Some mocks have Gibbs going in the late 20's....he almost always goes between 25-45.

Bummer.

Back to Michell and Achane, then...

He was the best pass-pro back in the stable, and it wasn't close. If he'd come back on a team-friendly deal I think Veach should definitely re-sign him.

other than that, I don't have anything substantial to say in this thread yet. Sorry for the interruption. Carry on.

The toughest part about replacing McKinnon is that for a pass catching back, his pass protection is superb. A lot of backs with that pass catching skillset in the NCAA don't have the chops in the protection game and I think Keaton Mitchell falls in that category. If the Chiefs are trying to get younger and find a running back who can replicate McKinnon, I don't know if Keaton Mitchell will fit the bill. Keaton is a fine prospect but he is more of a change of pace back in my eyes, with below average pass blocking. Everywhere I've seen has him around 180 lbs which just isn't enough.

Couple RB's I'm interested in seeing where they land that could fit the bill for the Chiefs are:

-Roschon Johnson (Texas): I think Roschon could go a lot higher than what people anticipate, I think he can do it all but was stuck behind one of the best RB's in the last 10 years. Unlike many RB's coming out of college, Roschon has a ton of special teams experience and also is great in both passing and run blocking situations.

I don't see Roschon doing exactly what McKinnon does, but perhaps if you wanted to move on from McKinnon, you could use Pacheco more in the passing game and spell with Roschon. Chiefs used McKinnon and Pacheco in 2 RB sets in the Super Bowl, I could see Roschon used in the same capacity. Also gives you a little flexibility with the FB position, maybe don't need to keep Burton around.

-Chase Brown (Illinois): Not your typical sized RB at 5'11 205 lbs, but he has a great first burst. Interested to see how he tests but I think he'll be one of the faster RB's in the combine. Handled the ball a ton this season for Illinois, his pass catching took some strides this year also. Biggest issue with Brown is he fumbled a fair bit this past season. I think his pass blocking can improve but he showed a willingness in the protection game, hopefully with some coaching he can improve.

Veach seems to have an eye for finding gems late in the draft, I got all the faith in the world if he wants to take another stab at a RB late.

There's a RB out of Memphis too lazy to look up his name who's perfect for Reids offense

Kenny McIntosh is the best fit for what KC needs to offset Pacheco IMO. Great receiver, a great blocker, solid runner with good speed. The only issue is taking a RB on day 2. I just don't know if that is what this team needs to be spending high picks on right now. If he hits the 4th, I'd probably move up and grab him.

I like Valladay later, obviously, as a guy I think can be a McKinnon replacement too.

One guy who I like a ton, but might be a ****ing idiot, is Titus Swen from Wyoming. He's a good back who has a lot of really quality NFL traits but getting dismissed from Wyoming for character issues is a tough pill. He'd have to be vetted pretty hard so I've been hesitant to mock him.

The same goes for Khalan Laborn from Marshall, who was dismissed from Florida State.

Why not just say eff it and get Achane in Rd 2? We used to salivate thinking what Jamaal Charles would have done in this offense. With Achane, we'd have a pretty good idea.

This

#letAchanecook

The list of sub 190 lbs running backs who have had success in the NFL is a very short one. Achane in the 2nd round would be a mistake in my opinion.

In this scheme he'd be a star, you could line him up anywhere because the kid is a good receiver and KR/PR too

If you want to argue for Achane as a WR convert in the 2nd, I'm fine with that pending his actual size at the combine. Otherwise, just no. I have my doubts to his "5'9" height listing. He looks 5'7" to me. Anyhow, the last thing this team needs to do is burn a 2nd on an undersized RB. If we were talking about him in the 4th or so as a potential Austin Ekeler type, then maybe. That's unlikely. He's not Jamaal Charles. Jamyr Gibbs might be. Achane is not.

Yeah, Achane is a guy who would have to play like CJ2K did. He's a fastback rather than a complete runner, IMO.

I like him in the 4th but not beyond that.

There are just sooooooooo many RBs every year. I really don't want to take one prior to the 4th, especially since we have a guy in Pacheco who can handle 200+ touches...

We're looking for a complementary RB; a clear 2 rather than a 1b sort. I don't see that being worth a 2nd day pick.

I'm a Texas homer, but I think Roschon would be a good fit for what we do in the third or fourth.

He's excellent in pass pro, has good hands, is solid between the tackles, and popped 21mph on a couple runs this season...plus he has low tread sitting behind Bijan these last few years.

Kendre Miller looks a little like he has Alvin Kamara/Aaron Jones kind of potential imo with the style that he runs. Zach Evans appears to have all the NFL traits to be a star too but it depends on where he's taken as scouts think he will be boom or bust apparently. If Gibbs is there at 31 though? Wow. Achane with Andy is also very tempting.

Jones, Clyde and potentially Mckinnon could be gone so I fully expect to see an RB taken tbh.

Even more than that, you're really looking for a guy to GROOM for RB2, as it's entirely likely Mckinnon comes back on a cheap deal as that's the best possible thing for him to do. So you don't really need a draftee to play right away more than likely, barring injury.

Mckinnon is over 30, missed years due to injury. Nobody's going to throw a bunch of money at him. This is the best possible situation for him to be in to prolong his career and compete for Super Bowls. I'd about bet the farm he comes back.

I too think we'll take a guy, but not early.

I'd be willing to bet they bring McKinnon back. He's in the perfect situation and he knows it.