SEPTEMBER 4: Perine signed a one-year, $1.5MM deal with the Chiefs, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Kansas City guaranteed the veteran RB $290K, but if Perine is on this weekend’s Chiefs roster, his $1.5MM locks in as a vested veteran.
AUGUST 28: Facing some questions behind starter Isiah Pacheco, the Chiefs will add a player one of their division rivals just discarded. Samaje Perine is heading to Kansas City.
The veteran running back, whom the Broncos released after failing to complete a trade, is joining the Chiefs’ active roster, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport report. Perine will join Clyde Edwards-Helaire and rookie UDFA Carson Steele on Kansas City’s roster.
This will give Patrick Mahomes an interesting option. The Chiefs drafted Edwards-Helaire to be a dynamic weapon, with the 5-foot-7 back showing plus receiving skills at LSU. The former first-round pick failed to live up to his draft slot, running into inconsistency issues during an injury-marred rookie-contract period. Kansas City did re-sign Edwards-Helaire, but Pacheco — a former seventh-round pick — has distanced himself as the clear RB1.
Perine, 29 next month, will effectively replace Jerick McKinnon. The Chiefs had reached three one-year contracts with McKinnon, who rebounded from two full-season absences to become a reliable contributor — particularly through the air — in Kansas City. The 10-year veteran is now 32, and the Chiefs are going a bit younger by nabbing Perine.
Delivering his best passing-game work in Denver, Perine totaled 455 receiving yards on 50 catches last season. He played a key role in the Broncos’ five-game midseason win streak, which included an upset over the Chiefs, but Denver did not find room on its roster this year. The Broncos had given Perine a two-year contract, but they then drafted Audric Estime in Round 5. The Notre Dame alum joined starter Javonte Williams and UDFAs Jaleel McLaughlin and Blake Watson on the Broncos’ 53-man roster.
It is worth wondering the Bengals pursued a reunion; they added Zack Moss in free agency and have 2023 Joe Mixon backup Chase Brown set for a big role. Perine backed up Mixon and chose a Broncos 2023 offer over a Bengals proposal. He will now attempt to help the Chiefs pull off the first threepeat in the Super Bowl era. This move also comes months after the Chiefs cut Samaje’s cousin, La’Mical Perine.
Looks like they have a new Jerick McKinnon.
Jerrick seems faster though
McKinnon is faster and Perine is bigger, but both of them are guys you bring in for passing downs to be capable in pass protection and little dump off passes, rather than guys you bring in to take a big chunk of the carries.
Makes sense
Absolutely not surprised in the slightest. Perfect fit.
I was hoping the bengals would bring him back . Good for him and I agree that he fits perfectly.
Seems like a smart football player. Andy Reid finds ways to make it look better in his offense. Could be a useful guy for 8 touches a game