Fresh off their second Super Bowl victory in the past four seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs now have several decisions to make as they begin their quest to repeat as champions. This effort will largely be led by Chiefs general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid, just as it has been for the past five years.
One of those key decisions will include whether to pick up or decline the fifth-year contract option of the No. 32 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Clyde Edwards-Helaire. After bursting out onto the scene as a rookie, tallying 1,100 yards from scrimmage, CEH has seen his touches reduced each year since.
This past season, Edwards-Helaire started just six of the team’s games. He hadn’t suited up since Week 11 while dealing with an ankle injury. Yet, CEH was activated off injured reserve in time for Super Bowl LVII, but the team chose to keep him inactive for the season finale.
Now, according to The Athletic‘s Nate Taylor, the Chiefs are expected to decline Edwards-Helaire’s fifth-year option. This would make the Chiefs’ running back a free agent after this upcoming season. But Taylor even suggests Kansas City could look to try and trade their former first-round pick for what likely would amount to a late-round selection in April’s draft.
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire contract: $3.4M cap hit in 2023, would be $5.4M in 2024
Despite CEH’s cap number not being that high, it’s still a price the Chiefs don’t appear willing to pay. Considering that he slipped behind seventh-round rookie Isiah Pacheco during the team’s Super Bowl run, it’s not hard to see why the Chiefs feel that extra $5 million could be wisely spent elsewhere.
But for other teams seeking a low-risk, high-reward tailback option during the 2024 free agency process, seeing CEH hit the open market when he’ll still be just 25, with plenty of tread left on his tires, could be appealing.
Related: Top NFL free agents of 2023: From 1-400, Derek Carr, Bobby Wagner join growing market