Jamaal Charles is an excellent playmaker, but it is possible the Chiefs will consider releasing the great running back.
At the age of 29 Charles is a completely different player than he once was. Charles tore his right ACL for the second time after starting five games in the 2015 NFL season. Charles tore this same ACL back in 2011 and sprained it in 2012. Charles's contract is huge and with a $5.3 million cap hit the Chiefs could explore moving if not releasing Charles.
Charles, prior to the 2015 season, recorded three 1,000 plus yard seasons and on average only missed one game per year. He has averaged over five yards a carry his entire career and his 5.5 yards per carry mark is 4th in NFL history.
Charles has been through six ankle injuries since 2005, and may have a lot more tread on his tires than previously thought. The Chiefs saw two younger running backs fill the void when Charles went down in Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware. West and Ware are both 24, however West will be a free agent if he doesn't get re-signed by the Chiefs.
West started in nine games and played in 15 while he recorded 160 rushing attempts, 634 yards, 4.0 yards per carry, and four rushing touchdowns. Spencer Ware was clearly the early down back as he gained 403 rushing yards, 5.6 yards per carry, and had 6 touchdowns on the season. The Chiefs will need to re-sign Eric Berry, Sean Smith, Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali, and Charcandrick West to bring back major elements of what made them a playoff team in 2015.
