Kansas City Chiefs: Darwin Thompson is a dynamic player with big upside

The Kansas City Chiefs may have found a major steal in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, snagging a dynamic playmaker at the running back position.

The Kansas City Chiefs did not make a selection in the 2019 NFL Draft until the second round where they took wide receiver Mecole Hardman with the 56th overall pick. Hardman is an exciting playmaker who is going to be an interesting addition to the Chiefs offense, but he is not the only dynamic offensive playmaker who the Chiefs added to the mix.

With their second of three sixth-round selections, the Kansas City Chiefs drafted Utah State running back Darwin Thompson. Blessed with impressive speed and quickness, Thompson is an ideal fit for the Chiefs offense and has an opportunity to come in and quickly make an impact.

The Chiefs appear ready to lean on veteran running backs Damien Williams and Carlos Hyde this season. With Patrick Mahomes under center, the Chiefs do not need much out of the running back position, allowing them to take a chance on cheap veterans and late-round draft picks like Thompson.

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Williams and Hyde are both primarily between the tackle runners who are not overly elusive in open space. Thompson is a pure speed back who shines in open space, making him an ideal complement to their veteran backs. He is an extremely slippery player who changes directions quickly and gets back up to speed on a dime.

Thompson also has surprising power for a 5-foot-8, 200-pound running back. He is not going to consistently run through NFL linebackers or anything like that, but Thompson gets low on contact and creates consistent forward movement.

Last, but not least, Thompson shows impressive natural ability as a receiver out of the backfield. He particularly shines on swing and flat routes, quickly getting out in space, catching the ball away from his body and getting upfield quickly. Thompson commonly makes the first defender miss in these situations, creating extra yardage after the catch.

Simply put, Thompson is an elusive back who can make plays as a runner and a receiver. Nobody knows how to get his skill position players in space better than Andy Reid and I am extremely excited to see what he has in store for Thompson. This guy could quickly become a late-round gem for the Kansas City Chiefs.