Will Clyde Edwards-Helaire Have His Option Picked Up? Will the Chiefs Trade Edwards-Helaire?

Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but he has underwhelmed in his first three seasons as a pro, so his future with the team is uncertain.

Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon had stellar seasons while Edwards-Helaire sat on Injured Reserve, and CEH ultimately was a healthy inactive for the team's Super Bowl LVII will over the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, the team has a decision to make regarding his fifth-year option.

Will Edwards-Helaire have his fifth-year option picked up? Could he be traded this offseason? Let's dive in.

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Clyde Edwards-Helaire 2022 Season Review

Edwards-Helaire got out to a hot start in 2022, scoring five touchdowns through Kansas City's first four games. However, he only eclipsed 12 touches once all season, and his touchdowns were a product of opportunities in the red zone versus real volume and explosive plays. In 10 games, he rushed 71 times for 302 yards and three touchdowns, adding 17 receptions for 151 yards and another three touchdowns.

In his last four contests before suffering an ankle injury that landed him on Injured Reserve, he handled just 13 touches for 60 yards of offense. He was held without a ton in the Week 9 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, so the writing on the wall for his decreased role came well before he was unable to play.

Ultimately, we've seen Damien Williams, Pacheco, McKinnon, and more outperform Edwards-Helaire when he's been injured, and it's becoming clear he won't pan out as the first-round pick the Chiefs hoped he would be. Maybe a change of scenery could revitalize his career, but his days as a significant contributor in Kansas City could be coming to an end.

Will Clyde Edwards-Helaire Get Traded This Offseason?

The Chiefs are expected to decline Edwards-Helaire's fifth-year option, which in turn makes him a logical candidate to be traded this offseason. The Chiefs are likely to enter 2023 with seventh-rounder Isiah Pacheco as their starter, and they could re-sign Jerick McKinnon to another one-year deal to serve as the backup.

If Edwards-Helaire is traded, KC could use a low-round draft pick to pick up another RB to pair with Pacheco, keeping McKinnon in a third-down role. The 23-year-old Edwards-Helaire has been a bust for the Chiefs due to injuries and inconsistencies. He hasn't played in more than 13 games in each of his three NFL seasons.

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