Earlier on Thursday, a report from NFL Network's Mike Garafolo relayed Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs' disinterest in reuniting with veteran running back LeSean McCoy in 2020. Now, McCoy could instead see interest from the Detroit Lions.
Per The Athletic's Chris Burke on Twitter, a “sleeper pick” to join the Lions in 2020 is the six-time Pro-Bowler McCoy.
Kenyan Drake is an obvious one to watch for the Lions since they tried to get him last year.
But my sleeper pick is LeSean McCoy. Matt Patricia has faced him a ton and has a lot of respect for what he can offer as a playmaker. https://t.co/wY2w2qRaTK
— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurkeNFL) March 5, 2020
Burke notes that the Lions did indeed attempt to acquire former Miami Dolphins rusher Kenyan Drake last year before he was dealt to the Arizona Cardinals, but McCoy makes sense because “[Detroit head coach] Matt Patricia has faced him and has a ton of respect” for McCoy's playmaking ability out of the backfield.
McCoy joined the eventual-champion Chiefs for the 2019 season after his five-year tenure with the Buffalo Bills ended when the AFC East club released him as a cut at the end of the training camp in August. McCoy then signed a one-year, $3 million deal with Kansas City, reuniting with his former head coach Andy Reid, as the two spent many notable years together with the Philadelphia Eagles.
McCoy recorded 465 rushing yards on 101 carries in 13 games for the Chiefs in 2019, but essentially made zero appearances in Kansas City's 2019-20 postseason run, culminating in not competing in Super Bowl LIV.
The Lions' depleted backfield was led by sophomore running back Kerryon Johnson last year, totaling 403 yards on the ground on 113 carries, scoring three touchdowns. Other rushers for Detroit in 2019 included Bo Scarbrough (377 rushing yards), Ty Johnson (273 yards), and JD McKissic (205 yards).
Without a doubt McCoy could help the Lions in 2020, but he should not be the entirely reliant option in the backfield going forward.
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