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.