Kansas City Chiefs running back Darrel Williams will enter the NFL’s free-agent market
Darrel Williams, who played the 2021 season in the final year of his contract, will test the free-agent market when the NFL’s new calendar year begins Wednesday, a source confirmed Monday morning with The Star.
The Chiefs attempted to reach a deal with the veteran running back ahead of the league’s open-negotiation window, which begins at 11 a.m. Central Time Monday and ends at 3 p.m. Wednesday, but were unsuccessful, the source said.
The 5-foot-11, 219-pound Williams joined the Chiefs in 2018 as an undrafted free agent out of LSU. He developed into a dependable backup rusher behind multiple lead backs for the Chiefs, including Kareem Hunt, Damien Williams and current starter Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Williams also posted career-high numbers last season in an extended role with Edwards-Helaire battling injuries. Williams started seven games last season and produced his first career 1,000-scrimmage-yards campaign (1,010) and eight touchdowns. His 558 rushing yards led the Chiefs’ offense, and his work ethic impressed the team’s staff late in the regular season.
“Darrel has always been a consistent football player,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said recently. “Darrel is always one of those guys that’s going to do it the right way. He’s going to do it exactly how you want it done, and he doesn’t take anything for granted.”
Should Williams, who turns 27 in April, sign elsewhere, the Chiefs will find themselves thin in the backfield. Edwards-Helaire is their lone running back under contract, while Jerick McKinnon is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. Derrick Gore is an exclusive-rights free agent.
The Chiefs could bolster their depth at the position by re-signing McKinnon or look to address the position group through free agency or the draft.
The NFL Network first reported the news on Williams.
This story was originally published March 14, 2022 at 9:38 AM with the headline "Kansas City Chiefs running back Darrel Williams will enter the NFL’s free-agent market."
