According to ESPN, when Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach texted quarterback Patrick Mahomes to ask him who he’d like to see the team select in the first round of the NFL Draft, Mahomes simply responded with, “Clyde.”

Of course, Mahomes was referring to LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Veach listened to his quarterback’s request and selected the LSU product with the 32nd overall pick in the first round.

While Damien Williams stepped up for Andy Reid’s offense last season, especially down the stretch on their Super Bowl run, Edwards-Helaire is the prototypical west coast back that Reid loves to have at his disposal.

Reid compared Edwards-Helaire to one of his former backs in Philadelphia, Brian Westbrook. Westbrook was often labeled as the poor man’s Marshall Faulk during his playing career, mostly due to the all-purpose yardage Westbrook accumulated during his career.

Westbrook was the best receiving back Reid ever had as an NFL head coach, but Edwards-Helaire may give Westbrook a run for his money, especially with the emphasis placed on the passing game in today’s NFL.

Along with rushing for over 1,400 yards in 2019, Edwards-Helaire also totaled 55 receptions for 453 yards and a touchdown. His ability to run routes and be a mismatch against linebackers trying to cover him is what set him apart from the rest of the running backs in this draft class.

He’s also a very powerful runner who rarely goes down after initial contact. Not to mention he has some of the best vision of all the back who entered this year’s draft.

The Chiefs are one of the most innovative teams in football, and coach Reid has done a marvelous job at utilizing the special playmakers he has on his offense. If there’s any coach who can get the most production out of a back like Edwards-Helaire, it’s Andy Reid.