no 5th year for CEH

[oldtimer 8,684]

Chiefs decline RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s fifth-year option

 

Charles Goldman

Tue, May 2, 2023 at 12:16 PM CDT

The Kansas City Chiefs have officially declined to pick up RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s fifth-year option.

As a former first-round draft pick, Edwards-Helaire was one of the many NFL players eligible for an option year following the conclusion of his rookie deal. Edwards-Helaire’s fifth-year option would have cost the team around $5.5 million full-guaranteed as he failed to meet the league’s playtime criteria or accolade criteria.

The 24-year-old running back has missed a lot of games during his first three seasons due to a laundry list of injuries. As a rookie, he suffered an ankle sprain and a hip injury late in the year. In October of 2021, he suffered an MCL sprain which saw him placed on injured reserve. In Week 16, he suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out until the divisional round of the playoffs. This past year, Edwards-Helaire finished the season on injured reserve after suffering a high ankle sprain against the Chargers in Week 11.

Despite the injuries, Edwards-Helaire has managed fair production in his first three seasons. He’s carried the ball 371 times for 1,472 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. He’s also added 72 receptions for 577 yards and six receiving touchdowns, proving to be a weapon in the passing game.

Without the fifth-year option, Edwards-Helaire will become an unrestricted free agent in 2024. Should Edwards-Helaire manage some sort of a bounceback year in Kansas City in 2023, they’d need to re-sign him or use the franchise tag in order to keep him on the team.

[kccrow 529]

He's the very definition of a brokedick. It'd be nice to find someone to take him for a draft pick given that Swift's broken ass just fetched a 2025 4th for the Lions. 

[kkuenn 3,597]

I wanted him to do well and even stuck up for him a lot 2 years ago. I said though he needed to be healthy and ge could never do that. Good riddance now.

[sith13 1,746]

Wouldn't mind an early 3rd day pick for him but I guess the market isn't very hot. Hopefully he turns it around this year and at least makes something out of his future in the NFL.

[azchief21 5,278]

Hopefully he'll bust it this year to try to get a new contract somewhere next year. 

[qnet 1,150]

I rooted for CEH,  but he couldn’t stay on the field unfortunately. You could tell he could feel the pressure was on, when Pacheco emerged; the way he ran when he got a chance. 

[xen 1,010,219]

[mex 65,581]

He was not worth the pick we spent on him, but he wasn't a bad RB. He'll make someone a good option. Just hope it's in the NFC where he won't be able to help a rival.

[Burpo The Mad Clown 5,554]

10 hours ago, qnet said:

I rooted for CEH,  but he couldn’t stay on the field unfortunately. You could tell he could feel the pressure was on, when Pacheco emerged; the way he ran when he got a chance. 

Yep. He ran hard this year. No one can doubt his effort. 

[West 6,713]

I think CEH has a "bounceback year"....funny how that happens when a guy is playing for his next contract.

This is where smart GM's understand the term "leverage".  There is no way the Chiefs were paying for the option year.

CEH better stay out of the tub if he wants to get paid.

w

[jetlord 10,207]

I didn't like CEH as a first round pick, didn't like the way he way used, and don't like the fact that he's a part time player.  That being said, he can contribute this season as a second RB.  Better than RoJo, or the other recent backups in the past few years.  McKinnon is limited in number of snaps and Pacheco can't be expected to play 100% of the snaps other than third downs.  CEH might gain 400 yards and receive a couple hundred with a TD or two.  It's his last season here and I hope he does well.  

[West 6,713]

To quote a sage veteran member: He needs to stay out of the tub.