The Kansas City Chiefs could use another running back. While Damien Williams proved to be a viable starter when healthy, the former fifth-round pick has yet to contribute for a full 16-game season. With only Daryl Williams and Darwin Thompson behind him on the depth chart, Kansas City could certainly stand to add some more depth. However, using an early pick on a relatively interchangeable position wouldn’t be wise, considering the rest of the needs on the roster. With that in mind, the Chiefs should go after Antonio Gibson in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Kansas City Chiefs NFL Draft Targets: Antonio Gibson
The most efficient way to winning in today’s NFL is by building a dangerous passing attack. The Chiefs already have a superstar in Patrick Mahomes along with the NFL’s best playcaller in Andy Reid. Tyreek Hill has the ability to take the top off the defense on any given play and Travis Kelce is arguably the best receiving tight end in football. This offense is going to be great (barring injuries), but Gibson can help make it even better.
Gibson possesses the same big-play ability that would make him a star in this offense. Spending time at wide receiver and running back, Gibson had a knack for making big plays whenever he touched the ball. Throughout his college career, he recorded 14 touchdowns on just 77 touches, including seven touchdowns of 40 or more yards. The Memphis product spent time at running back and receiver, so nobody should question his ability to contribute in the passing game.
Gibson isn’t the most natural running back in this class, but he’s capable of reading his blocks and picking the right hole at an NFL level. When in the open field, Gibson has an advanced ability to make defenders miss and can even use his strength to move some defensive backs and pick up every available yard. As the cherry on top, he can also make an immediate contribution on special teams.
The Downside
Aside from positional value, there is a reason that Antonio Gibson isn’t projected to go earlier than the fourth round. Gibson is an exciting football player, but he doesn’t have a true position. While he can make plays in the open field, he struggles to get there on his own. Despite his quickness, he is surprisingly bad at route running. He might not be able to effectively line up in the slot, and that definitely limits his value. As previously mentioned, he’s solid, but nothing special, as a runner.
Another worry is his minimal usage in college. As previously mentioned, he only received 77 touches and hardly saw the field before his senior season. Based on film alone, there is no reason for this minimal usage. However, coaches typically have reasons for doing the things they do, so there could be some behind the scene red flag with Gibson. That said, Tennessee refused to give Alvin Kamara a full workload, and it’s safe to say that third-round gamble paid off for the New Orleans Saints.
Ultimately, the rewards far outweigh the risks when it comes to Antonio Gibson. Andy Reid is the best in the league at scheming running backs into the open field, so Gibson’s inability to separate on his own won’t really matter. He’s dangerous in space, and that’s the most important trait for an Andy Reid running back. He follows his blocks well enough to be more than just a third-down back and should be a nice weapon in this offense. The low collegiate workload is something of a red flag, but that’s a red flag you can live with when drafting in the fourth round.
