Jerick McKinnon had a solid season for the Kansas City Chiefs last season. He had 803 total yards and found the endzone 10 times throughout the season. After a season like that, one would think that he would not have any trouble finding a team for 2023. This is not the case as McKinnon has not had many NFL teams reach out to him and he is feeling disrespected.
Jerick McKinnon On The Lack Of Teams Reaching Out In Free Agency
“The disrespect is real,” McKinnon said when asked about the lack of teams reaching out. The seven-year veteran has had a solid career and has been productive at all of his stops. With so many backfields using two or even three backs, McKinnon could provide a good third-down option, especially with his receiving skills. However, it seems like teams are passing on McKinnon for now. Running back is a tricky position in free agency.
Running Backs And Longevity
McKinnon is 30 years old with a lot of miles on him. History tells us that McKinnon’s best days are behind him which is why teams may not be showing much interest. Teams may look to take a flyer on a young undrafted free agent rather than sinking money into an aging role player. It is still early in the NFL season. The draft hasn’t happened and once training camps start, a team might have some injuries creep up. Often this causes a team to try and find a veteran back to come in and learn the playbook quickly. This is likely what McKinnon needs to wait for.
Jerick McKinnon shouldn’t take this personally. This is the nature of the NFL. He isn’t the only back that is waiting for teams to call. While he remains unsigned right now, I would not be surprised if he finds a way onto an NFL roster in 2023.
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