Is Teddy Bridgewater to the Carolina Panthers the right move?

Is Teddy Bridgewater to the Carolina Panthers the right move? by John Buhler

The Kansas City Chiefs don’t have much cap space, but they don’t need a ton to make a move for free-agent running back Todd Gurley.

Some things in life make too much sense to happen. Brett Veach should ensure this isn’t one of them.

The Kansas City Chiefs general manager has a long history of acquiring former first and second-round picks as reclamation projects. Todd Gurley should be his next.

Gurley, 25, was released by the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday. The team attempted to trade Gurley but unsurprisingly found no takers with his four-year, $57.5 million contract looming and an arthritic knee weighing his career down.

Now on the open market, Gurley should be dirt cheap. This is where a smart contender swoops in.

Last year, the Chiefs signed running back LeSean McCoy to a one-year, $4 million deal. His impact was minuscule, but so was the risk. McCoy was also on the wrong side of 30. Gurley is in his mid-20s and only two years ago was an NFL MVP candidate.

For Kansas City, this would be a signing for January. Gurley could largely stretch out on the sideline for four months before revving up in the postseason. If the Chiefs got four weeks of vintage Gurley, a small-time gamble would yield a big-time payoff.

In the past, Veach has hit big on players who went from big prospects to projects. Last year, the Chiefs’ Super Bowl run was buoyed by Reggie Ragland and Cam Erving, two players acquired via trade by Veach after being discarded by their original clubs. Both played roles in helping Kansas City win it all. Darron Lee was another such move, although he went bust instead of boom.

With Gurley, his skill set is a phenomenal fit with Andy Reid’s scheme. The former first-round pick had 218 receptions in five years, including a career-best 64 in 2017, the first of two All-Pro campaigns. The Chiefs have Damien Williams but little else in the way of proven backs.

Additionally, Kansas City is tight against the cap. Gurley offers them a chance to improve without spending major funds.

The Chiefs haven’t signed an outside free agent yet. Gurley ought to be their first.