Kansas City Chiefs 2023 Roster Preview: Running Backs Entering Training Camp

Led by Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon and supported by Clyde Edwards-Helaire and possibly Deneric Prince, the Chiefs' RB depth is a strength.

Feb 12, 2023; Glendale, AZ, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) celebrates with running back Jerick McKinnon (1) after scoring a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow/The Republic via USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs' running back picture heading into the 2022 season featured former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire leading the way. Behind him, veteran Jerick McKinnon was his presumed right-hand man and rookie seventh-round selection Isiah Pacheco was a developmental piece with some upside. About halfway through the year and then down the stretch, that order was flipped. 

There may not have been any greater display of clichés like "next man up" or "playing the hot hand" than there was with Kansas City's running back room last season. The fullback position, this year, is expected to be filled by either a halfback or tight end whenever head coach Andy Reid decides to dial up a play requiring that type of personnel. Stability and fluidity should go hand-in-hand with this season's backfield picture, and the next few weeks will help determine what shape that takes. 

As 2023 Chiefs training camp comes into focus, Arrowhead Report will be previewing each of the team's position groups. This precedes a roster projection once training camp is in full swing, allowing for in-depth analysis and observations of the roster general manager Brett Veach has put together. The series continues with running back, a position that plays a critical role in Reid's offense despite the system not being particularly run-heavy.

The starter: Isiah Pacheco

Coming out of Rutgers, Pacheco was a ball of energy with less-than-ideal patience but a ton of attitude every time he toted the football. That ended up being the case early and often during his rookie year with the Chiefs, although he got better as the season went on. He's now coming off a campaign that saw him rush for 830 yards in the regular season and play a role during the team's run to the Super Bowl. Pacheco has question marks surrounding his game — namely durability, pass protection and pass-catching chops — that could limit him to being mostly an early-down back. With that said, it still allows him to qualify as the starter. 

The backup: Jerick McKinnon

McKinnon, who turned 31 in May, was on the field for 47% of the Chiefs' offensive snaps past season. His production on the ground was somewhat lackluster (4.0 yards per carry with one touchdown), but he was far and away the team's best pass-protecting halfback and also its most productive receiver out of the backfield. Even if McKinnon fails to replicate the 512 receiving yards and nine touchdowns he had a year ago, he will still be a valuable piece in Reid's offense. The hope for the team is that he can stay healthy enough to play and remain effective as he continues to age. 

The intriguing pieces: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Deneric Prince and La'Mical Perine

Edwards-Helaire, much like he has in the past, struggled to stay healthy for the Chiefs in 2022. He played in 10 games, starting just six of them, and averaged 4.3 yards per carry on the ground. With that said, he tied a career-high in total touchdowns with six despite being available for just 32% of offensive snaps. There's a very obvious spot on the roster for the former LSU standout if he's healthy in 2023, and Kansas City has indicated at every step of the offseason that he will be relied on to contribute in some capacity. It may not be in a starting role, but that might be what's best for him now.

Prince, a highly-touted undrafted free agent pickup, stood out during the minicamp portion of the offseason and caught the attention of Reid. A hard-nosed runner with good athleticism, he has a shot at forcing his way onto the roster with a stellar camp and preseason. Perine, a fourth-round pick from the same draft as Edwards-Helaire, is a practice squad candidate but has been around the team for months and will compete in camp. 

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