NFL Draft 2020: Chiefs improve scary offense with Clyde Edwards-Helaire

The Kansas City Chiefs used their first-round selection to somehow improve their offense, adding LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire at No. 32.

While Green Bay drafted a quarterback with their first round pick Thursday night, Kansas City decided to give theirs’ a new weapon. That’s right, Patrick Mahomes’ arsenal just got bigger. Bigger is a bad word for this specific player, we’ll say Mahomes’ arsenal got deeper with the addition of Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

While at LSU, Edwards-Helaire piled up 2,105 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. But it wasn’t until this past season that Edwards-Helaire became a threat in the passing game. In 2019, the 5-foot-8 junior caught 55 passes for 453 yards. Pretty impressive for a college running back, specifically one who played in an offense with two 1,500-yard receivers.

What does this pick mean for Kansas City? Well, it gives Mahomes another target, adding to Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Travis Kelce and Sammy Watkins. That’s five electric players a defense is forced to defend. Throw in Mahomes’ ability to move in the pocket and he’ll cause defensive coordinators even more fits this upcoming season.

The Chiefs could’ve gone a couple different ways with this pick. At running back, they could’ve added J.K. Dobbins, D’Andre Swift, or Johnathan Taylor. On the other side of the ball, they could’ve looked at defensive backs Jaylon Johnson or Antoine Winfield, Jr. Even defensive lineman A.J. Epenesa or Jordan Elliott deserved attention.

Edwards-Helaire seems like the perfect fit for Andy Reid and Mahomes, though. A Brian Westbrook-lite, if you will, going back to Reid’s days in Philadelphia.

Grade: A

The Chiefs nailed their 2020 first round draft pick. Edwards-Helaire will provide another versatile player for an already-feared Kansas City attack. Will him breaking a bunch of individual records and become a multi-year Pro Bowler? Who knows. But he will step on the field and immediately help the Chiefs defend their Super Bowl.