Chiefs' No. 3 running back battle is beginning to take shape with latest roster move

The Kansas City Chiefs have shaken up their running back room ahead of OTAs, releasing 26-year-old RB La'Mical Perine from the 90-man offseason roster. 

Perine finished the 2023 NFL season as the No. 3 running back on last year's depth chart behind Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire while Jerick McKinnon was injured. With voluntary offseason workouts set to begin on Monday, May 20, it's clear that the depth behind Pacheco and Edwards-Helaire is as wide open as ever before for Kansas City.

"I think that’s going to be one of those positions just like the left tackle, starting position, just like the tail end positions at corner," Chiefs GM Brett Veach said.in late April. "That running back position will be a battle and usually it comes down to special teams and pass protector as a number three here, so I think all these guys have traits we like and now it’s just a matter of a couple of those guys putting together a solid training camp. That’s from the mental side of things and from a special teams side of things. I do think though we have some guys that all have ability and now it’s just a matter of those guys going out there and earning a position."

Running back battle coming into focus with OTAs around the corner

With Perine out of the picture, you might instantly turn your attention to rookies who were signed as undrafted free agents following the 2024 NFL draft. While they'll surely play their part, Brett Veach went out of his way to remind people during his post-draft press conference about a running back the team added to the practice squad late in the 2023 NFL season. 

"Keaontay Ingram is a guy we like too," Veach said. "We got him late last year and it’s hard when guys come in into the middle of the season, we added him into our practice squad late, but I think we were a fan of his when he was at USC."

A former sixth-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2022, Ingram has appeared in 20 career NFL games. He has recorded 62 carries for 134 yards and a single rushing touchdown in that span, averaging just 2.2 yards per rushing attempt during his professional career. He has averaged nearly six yards per reception during his NFL career, however, his production at USC was much more substantial. During his final season, Ingram amassed 178 touches for 1,067 yards and five touchdowns.

He's definitely someone to keep an eye on, and perhaps the in-house favorite to win the job, but ultimately the competition will decide who slots in behind Pacheco and Edwards-Helaire for Kansas City. Players like Emani Bailey, Carson Steele, and even second-year RB Deneric Prince will all have an opportunity to prove themselves over the next few months and especially during training camp. 

"From a talent perspective, as you mentioned with (Emani) Bailey and (Carson) Steele we brought in and then last year (Deneric) Prince and Keaontay Ingram, all of those guys have talent and ability to play in this league," Veach said. "Now it’s just a matter of who can put together a solid training camp and earn the position.”

Could Chiefs be eyeing former First Team All-Pro running back as a free agent addition?

There is one free agent that Chiefs fans should watch who just became available eight days ago.

The Panthers released RB Tarik Cohen from their 90-man offseason roster after he spent the entire 2023 NFL season on the practice squad in Carolina. The 28-year-old played four seasons under Chiefs OC Matt Nagy with the Chicago Bears. Nagy helped coach the North Carolina A&T product to the best season of his NFL career in 2018, where he recorded 205 total touches for 1,599 yards and four touchdowns. He was also a stud return specialist with 96 punt returns for 985 yards in his four-year career with Chicago.