When it comes to the running game, the Kansas City Chiefs have come up small, both literally and figuratively. The Chiefs have relied on undersized backs like Isiah Pacheco, and the results have been costly.
The Chiefs won’t spend big on the position, either in free agency or by using draft capital, but they could go big with a Day 2 pick. Washington Huskies running back Jonah Coleman has the kind of size the Chiefs could use in their running back room, both as a pass blocker and a power runner between the tackles, according to Price Carter of Arrowhead Addict.
Coleman started his career at Arizona as a three-down back, and he racked up over 1200 yards on just over 200 carries. After that he hit the transfer portal and landed with the Washington Huskies, where he’s posted over 2300 yards and 27 touchdowns in just over 400 touches.
He stands just 5’9”, but rest assured Coleman is a power back at 228 pounds. Coleman is also rated highly as a character player, having been praised for his competitiveness by coaches, scouts and teammates. His low center of gravity makes him tough to bring down, which should sound familiar to Chiefs fans who have watched running back Kareem Hunt over the years.
Coleman is also surprisingly shifty for his size, according to Carter, and he’s got a bit of a burst. He excels at bouncing runs outside, which is essential in an offense led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The running back is also an excellent pass blocker, and he has 87 receptions for over 800 yards, so he’d fit Kansas City’s scheme in that respect as well. Coleman has also been durable, which has been an issue for the Chiefs with their undersized running backs.
Coleman’s preliminary draft grade has him as a second rounder, which is probably a little high for the Chiefs. But running backs like Coleman slide in the draft all the time, and if that happens to Coleman he could be a candidate to get drafted by Kansas City. He'd likely start out by subbing in for Hunt, then slide into a larger role.
If you’re looking for parallels, they’re right there in the AFC West. Coleman is a little bigger than Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton and Denver Broncos back RJ Harvey, and that size could be what Kansas City needs to compete in the run game going forward.