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LSU Football: Clyde Edwards-Helaire compared to legendary RB

By Zach Ragan

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Clyde Edwards-Helaire #22 of the LSU Tigers spins out of a tackle from Derion Kendrick #1 of the Clemson Tigers during the fourth quarter of the College Football Playoff National Championship game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The LSU Tigers topped the Clemson Tigers, 42-25. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Clyde Edwards-Helaire #22 of the LSU Tigers spins out of a tackle from Derion Kendrick #1 of the Clemson Tigers during the fourth quarter of the College Football Playoff National Championship game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The LSU Tigers topped the Clemson Tigers, 42-25. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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LSU football’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire was the fifth former Tiger selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Most folks thought we’d see five former LSU football players selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

And that’s exactly what happened on Thursday night.

But most of us had the wrong five getting selected.

The first four — Joe Burrow, K’Lavon Chaisson, Justin Jefferson and Patrick Queen — went according to script.

Kristian Fulton was expected to be the fifth LSU player selected. Or maybe Grant Delpit.

It was neither.

The Kansas City Chiefs selected running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire with the final pick of the first round.

As soon as I saw this selection, I immediately loved it. Edwards-Helaire is an absolutely perfect fit for the Chiefs. He’s a versatile running back that excels at catching the ball out of the backfield (55 receptions for 453 yards in 2019).

The Chiefs are an innovative team that should be able to maximize Edwards-Helaire’s potential.

And his potential, according to one NFL draft analyst, is to be as good as one of the best running backs over the last 20 years.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, who worked as a scout for several NFL teams before becoming an analyst, compared Edwards-Helaire to former Chiefs running back Priest Holmes.

That’s quite a comparison. Holmes isn’t in the Hall of Fame, but he’s still one of the best running backs I’ve ever seen in the NFL.

Holmes’ 2001-2003 stretch was absolutely insane. Over those three seasons, Holmes scored 61 total touchdowns. He caught 206 passes for 1,976 yards.

Oh, and he rushed for 4,590 yards.

If Edwards-Helaire, who rushed for 1,414 yards in 2019, is able to get anywhere close to those numbers, then Kansas City got an absolute steal by landing him with the No. 32 overall pick.

Next. Why Joe Burrow is the next pro sports icon. dark

I can’t imagine a better situation for Edwards-Helaire than ending up in Kansas City. I have a feeling that his NFL career is going to take off in a big way with the defending Super Bowl Champions.

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