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The Kansas City Chiefs may have used their first-round draft pick on a running back, but that doesn't mean Damien Williams is about to be replaced. Not yet, anyway.
During an interview with Pro Football Talk, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said that Williams will remain the club's starting halfback:
“I certainly think it’s going to be a shared load … Damien has been in this offense for a long time and certainly has shown what he can do on that playoff run. The guy’s a really good pass protector [and] can catch the football. I mean, both these guys can run and catch and certainly Damien will come in as the starting running back and Clyde [Edwards-Helaire] will have to come in here and compete for playing time, which we think he’ll do. But I think it will be a one-two punch.”
Williams struggled with injuries through much of this past season, playing in 11 games and rushing for just 498 yards and five touchdowns during the regular season.
However, he played a pivotal role in Kansas City's championship run, totaling 196 yards and four scores on the ground while also catching a couple of touchdown passes in three playoff games.
Most importantly, Williams racked up 104 yards and a touchdown during the Chiefs' Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers.
But given that Williams has never been a true featured back at any point of his career since entering the NFL with the Miami Dolphins back in 2014, Kansas City's decision to take Edwards-Helaire in Round 1 makes plenty of sense.
