The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t select a running back in the 2023 NFL draft, but they did add one of the best remaining players at the position after the draft.
The Chiefs signed former Texas A&M and Tulsa RB Deneric Prince as an undrafted free agent. According to KPRC2 NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, Prince received a $15K signing bonus and $231K in guaranteed money to sign with Kansas City after the draft.
Listed at 5-11 and 216 pounds, Prince is a great size/speed blend at the running back position. He ran a 4.41s 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and you can see that same type of explosion throughout his tape. Prince finished the 2022 college football season with 126 carries for 729 yards and five rushing touchdowns. He also added nine receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown through the air.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Chiefs GM Brett Veach explained what they’re expecting from their newest running back.
“And as far as (Deneric) Prince, he’s a guy that we’re excited about,” Veach said. “He’s a big kid that can really run. He ran one of the fastest 40 times at the Combine (and he) has done a good job over the years of working on the passing game. So he’s again, another talented kid that we’re excited to bring in here.”
This feels like another situation reminiscent of Isiah Pacheco’s entrance into the NFL in 2022. The Chiefs seem to have found a talented athlete who underperformed in college due to circumstances that weren’t entirely in his control. It’s clear the team expects him to compete for a role and potentially earn a spot on the 53-man roster. Remember, the Chiefs carried four running backs on the active roster at the onset of the 2022 NFL season (five if you include FB Mike Burton).
