It’s a subsequent chapter that merely feels proper.
Veteran operating again Clyde Edwards-Helaire was launched by the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this week in a transfer to make room for Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, who’s returning to the workforce following a year-long stint off of injured reserve. After practically 5 full seasons with the Chiefs, it was the tip of a sophisticated run with the franchise, however the excellent news is that Edwards-Helaire has discovered a spot he can actually name residence in his subsequent skilled cease.
Nick Underhill, a beat author protecting the New Orleans Saints, broke the information that the workforce was making room on its apply squad to have the ability to host Edwards-Helaire in his second cease within the NFL. Defensive sort out Kendal Vickers was let go within the course of.
Edwards-Helaire was drafted by the Chiefs in 2020 within the first spherical total with a imaginative and prescient so as to add him to the dynamic trio of Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Patrick Mahomes. The perception was that such a well-rounded weapon out of the backfield would make the Chiefs’ offense unstoppable—pouring fuel on the proverbial fireplace, as they are saying.
The downside is that the imaginative and prescient of utilizing Edwards-Helaire in such a approach by no means fairly materialized. Injuries have been partially in charge throughout his stint, however the match was additionally not fairly there. Edwards-Helaire was hailed as the perfect pass-catching again to come back out of the draft and but he was by no means elite in anybody space. He lacked the velocity to get exterior and the Chiefs by no means leaned on him within the passing recreation the best way analysts anticipated.
It additionally did not assist that the workforce used a first-round decide on a operating again when so many different wants have been current. Meanwhile, backs taken later like Jonathan Taylor loved a lot stronger begins to their careers, which solely amplified the criticism across the decide of Edwards-Helaire over time.
Edwards-Helaire was re-signed this offseason after ending his rookie deal, however the Chiefs by no means utilized him inside a remade offense. Instead, the workforce signed Kareem Hunt and landed Samaje Perine within the preseason with a view to bolster the place round Isiah Pacheco’s damage. Even undrafted free agent Carson Steele made his presence felt whereas Edwards-Helaire was a wholesome scratch on recreation days.
The upside play for the Saints right here is that they get to see a former first-round decide in a welcome setting for Edwards-Helaire since he calls Louisiana residence and attended LSU for his school profession. The Saints may use some assist with Alvin Kamara damage, so maybe a visit residence was the jolt that Edwards-Helaire has wanted all alongside.
Over his first 4 seasons, Edwards-Helaire averaged 110 carries for 461 dashing yards and three touchdowns per yr for the Chiefs.
