Chiefs Roster: Samaje Perine projects as pass-down back in offense

This week, between the preseason finale and the regular season opener, the Kansas City Chiefs made a handful of moves to turn over the fringes of the roster. However, one external acquisition stands out for how it can impact the team immediately.

Running back Samaje Perine was signed on Wednesday after getting cut by the Denver Broncos. The eighth-year back spent one season in Denver after a notable three-year stretch with the Cincinnati Bengals. Over the last two seasons, Perine has accumulated 1,346 total yards and seven touchdowns as a complementary back to the team’s starter.

The late addition to the backfield is reminiscent of 2019 when the Chiefs signed veteran running back LeSean McCoy just before Week 1. That season, McCoy contributed 646 total yards and five touchdowns as a secondary option behind the starter Damien Williams.

Perine has a chance to make a similar impact in 2024 with the Chiefs. These are the ways he can fit into the offense right away:

Receiving out of the backfield

In 2023, Perine was the Broncos’ primary pass-down back. Once the offense was facing a third down or the two-minute drill, Perine was in the game to be a reliable pass catcher — or pass blocker.

Perine finished with 455 receiving yards in 2023, the seventh-most by any running back in the NFL. He was one of the most efficient receiving backs as well.

That’s where Perine excelled in Cincinnati as well: being the pass-down back to complement starter Joe Mixon; in 2022, Perine scored four touchdowns over the 38 passes he caught with the Bengals.

In these receptions from 2023, Perine shows off good contact balance and quick enough feet to be a nuisance to bring down in the open field. He doesn’t have the explosiveness or shiftiness to juke a defender out in space, but he’s subtly elusive. It prevents defenders from getting a clean shot at him, and Perine has the strength to shake off ankle grabs and arm tackles.

It’s why Perine ranked so highly among the league in gaining more yards after the catch than expected.

Pass protection

Coming out of Oklahoma in the 2017 NFL Draft class, Perine measured 5 feet 11 inches tall and 233 pounds. He may have slimmed down some in the league, but that large frame still provides him a strong foundation as a pass blocker.

On these plays, Perine displays both the willingness and the technique to hold up against blitzers or stunting edge rushers. It starts with the wide base, which allows him to generate power at the engagement and react to the rushers’ movement. On plays where the defensive line runs a stunt, his wide base and active hands allow him to come off blocks and pick up others efficiently.

It’s important that a pass-protection back is willing to stick his nose in the fan and be aggressive in taking on blitzes. Perine has that trait, but it can be overdone on some reps, leading to whiffs or an unbalanced block. He wants to deliver a big blow, but that isn’t always necessary at his size. He has the strength to control some of these engagements without the headhunting.

Either way, the Chiefs won’t have to be concerned with Perine’s physicality in these situations. He is looking to put his body on the line to keep rushers off the quarterback.

Power running

Perine was almost exclusively used in passing situations with Denver. He only totaled 53 rushing attempts in 2023, but averaged three yards after contact per rush; when he got room to run into the second level, he forced multiple off-ball defenders to gang up and bring him down.

The same contact balance that makes him an asset as a receiver shows up on these carries. He has the core strength to stay up through high tackle attempts, like shaking off former Chiiefs’ safety Juan Thornhill easily on the first play.

That power running also shows up on this goal-line snap. After receiving the inside handoff, Perine is initially contacted at the four-yard line — but he drives through the line and finds the goal line anyway.

The bottom line

The Chiefs needed another contributor in the backfield. Starting running back Isiah Pacheco has earned more chances to be a true three-down back, but it wouldn’t be wise to give him that full workload all season. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire can spell the lead back, but his inconsistent availability may come up throughout the campaign.

Perine brings dependability to the Chiefs’ backfield. He has played in 16 or more games in the last four years and has much more experience in the pass-down back role than anyone in Kansas City.

Perine offers more than just his catching and blocking abilities; that is likely where he will make the most significant impact for the Chiefs.

To put it simply: Perine is the new Jerick McKinnon. That should give fans an indication of how important Perine could be in Kansas City.