DeMarco Murray doubling down on Jaydn Ott with Chiefs is raising eyebrows

There's a reunion no one should have wanted in Kansas City.

NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported shortly after the NFL Draft on Saturday that former Oklahoma running back Jaydn Ott is signing as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs, where former OU running backs coach DeMarco Murray just left Norman for the same role at and will again coach Ott.

Chiefs signing Jaydn Ott after disastrous Oklahoma season to create questionable reunion

The biggest question for the questionable situation is if it's a worse decision by Murray or Ott to agree to make the reunion happen after being together for one season at OU. Ott's time as a Sooner went as bad as it could, so Murray witnessed from the sideline and during practice all of Ott's flaws. However, after excelling at Cal, Ott had the worst season of his career while playing for Murray, so he could also be at fault some for Ott's shortcomings as a Sooner. Now, they're going to do it all over again in the NFL.

Ott transferred to Oklahoma last spring as the No. 1 running back available in the Transfer Portal after three seasons at Cal, where he led the Pac-12 with 1,305 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023. He was far from reaching those expectations with the Sooners, though.

In his lone season at OU, Ott rushed for 68 yards while averaging 3.2 a carry and didn't get in the end zone while appearing in just seven games and becoming a forgotten offseason addition by the halfway point of the season. He was ultimately buried on the depth chart as the No. 4 man in the Sooners' backfield that Murray led. As good as OU's backfield was last season, it doesn't compare to the talent Murray now has in Kansas City while adding one of the most lackluster players he just had to the mix.

Read more: Jaydn Ott says the quiet part out loud after Oklahoma disappointment

Ott still, though, received an invite to the Senior Bowl and impressed scouts enough there to get on the radar as a possible late-round pick in the NFL Draft. Despite the poor showing in Oklahoma, multiple franchises likely would have given Ott a chance as a free agent, which makes his decision to choose the Chiefs even more surprising as he's likely looking for, and needs, a complete restart.

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