The Buffalo Bills kicked off NFL cutdown day with a surprise, releasing running back LeSean McCoy. In the early minutes of Sunday morning, McCoy signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the news.
Former Bills’ RB LeSean McCoy is reuniting with Chiefs HC Andy Reid, per source. McCoy getting a one-year, $4 million deal that includes $3 million guaranteed from the Chiefs.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 1, 2019
Kansas City Chiefs Bring in LeSean McCoy
McCoy’s release from the Bills was more or less a shock. After four strong years out of McCoy in Buffalo, three of which were Pro Bowl seasons, McCoy was on the outs. This surprised many, as Bills GM Brandon Beane had said multiple times that they had big plans for McCoy in 2019. That was, of course, until the Bills signed Frank Gore and T.J. Yeldon, as well as draft Devin Singletary. With the already crowded backfield Buffalo had, saving $6 million in cap space by cutting McCoy made sense.
For Kansas City, however, this is also a smart move. It was widely speculated that the Chiefs would be bringing in McCoy after trading Carlos Hyde to the Houston Texans for Martinas Rankin. The move made a ton of sense, considering McCoy’s history with Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid. Reid was the coach of the Philadelphia Eagles when they drafted McCoy in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. McCoy was an elite talent in Philadelphia for several years, before being traded to Buffalo in exchange for Kiko Alonso in March of 2015.
During his time with the Eagles, McCoy played in 90 games from 2009-2014. In those 90 games, McCoy accumulated 6,792 rushing yards on 1,461 carries. 44 of those carries went for touchdowns. He also flashed as a receiving threat, catching 300 passes on 383 targets for 3,616 yards and 15 touchdowns. Over the last four years with Buffalo, McCoy played in 57 games. In those games, McCoy rushed 885 times for 3,814 yards and 25 touchdowns. He caught 175 passes on 230 targets for 1,334 yards and five touchdowns. Kansas City acquiring a player like McCoy is dangerous, considering how much he has left in the tank, the weapons the Chiefs already have, and his familiarity in Andy Reid’s system.
