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Kansas City Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon scored more touchdowns at age 30 than he has in any other season of his seven-year career, but it was the touchdown he didn't score that he will be most remembered for. When he slid at the one-yard line in the Super Bowl, he sealed the Chiefs' second Super Bowl victory in four years and deprived the Philadelphia Eagles of a comeback attempt.
McKinnon was also critical to Kansas City's success during the season. He was the team's third-leading receiver, and when they got close to the end zone, Patrick Mahomes looked his way. His nine receiving touchdowns were the second-most on the team, behind only Travis Kelce, and tied for sixth-most in the league.
Now McKinnon is an unrestricted free agent following the expiration of his one-year contract. Will the Chiefs bring him back in 2023?
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Is Jerick McKinnon A Free Agent In 2023?
Free agency starts on March 15, and the Chiefs' front office has still not commented on whether they intend to bring McKinnon back.
In 2021, McKinnon's first year with the Chiefs, the veteran also played on a one-year contract. The Chiefs didn't resign him immediately but waited until June after all other teams passed and inked him to a one-year $1.27 million contract. After McKinnon's career year, it is likely he will not linger unsigned if he hits the open market.
That said, Kansas City doesn't really need him. Rookie Isiah Pacheco led the Chiefs in rushing yardage by a substantial margin. McKinnon only carried the ball 72 times for 291 yards. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who is still under contract through 2024, gained more yards on the ground than McKinnon despite missing seven games. McKinnon was the best receiving back, but Patrick Mahomes has proven he can be productive when throwing the ball to anyone.
Which Team Will Sign Jerick McKinnon This Offseason?
If McKinnon goes onto the open market, he will be an attractive option for a team in need of a third-down back. The Tennessee Titans, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cleveland Browns, or the Indianapolis Colts are among the possibilities.
Titans GM Ran Carthon has a connection to McKinnon. As director of pro personnel for the San Francisco 49ers, he was involved in scouting McKinnon and signing him in 2020. That was his first year back after missing all of 2018 and 2019 with knee issues. While McKinnon was a backup all season, he did score six touchdowns, which was his career high up until this year.
The Bengals, Browns, and Colts all need to replace their third-down back. Samaje Perine and Kareem Hunt are both free agents. Hunt led all Browns running backs with 44 targets. The Browns are also losing D'Ernest Johnson to free agency and only have two running backs returning from last season.
The Bengals drafted Michigan RB Chris Evans in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he seemed like a promising receiving back, but he only caught three passes in all of 2022 and didn't receive a single carry.
The Colts had one of the league's best receiving backs in Nyheim Hines, but they traded him to Buffalo for Zach Moss and a conditional sixth-round pick. Moss is a downhill run-first back who ran for 365 yards on 76 carries and only caught four passes for the Colts.
It's possible the Chiefs will resign him, too, but they should not make him a priority. Depending on where he ends up and how he is utilized, McKinnon could become a low-end flex option in deep leagues. But he likely will not reproduce his double-digit touchdown season.
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