Chiefs: A Third Round Wide Receiver?

Chiefs: A Third Round Wide Receiver? – I was going through the 2020 draft board and looking over the wide receivers, for some unknown reason, when I came across an intriguing prospect: a wideout with uncommon speed. In fact, speed that is second only to Henry Ruggs II in this draft, and Ruggs ran a 4.27 40, but this prospect doesn’t have a first or even second round grade. The player I’m referring to is K.J. Hamler out of Penn State, the same school that produced Tamba Hali in 2006.

WR, K.J. Hamler

At 5-foot-8 and weighing in at 176 lbs. — soaking wet I presume — Hamler is almost exactly the same size as De’Anthony Thomas (a 4th round pick of the Chiefs in 2014 and now playing for the Ravens). While watching Hamler, I realized there is one glaring difference between the two: he doesn’t drop to the turf as soon as a defender looks at him. No, Hamler is not only faster than DAT but, can take a hit and keep on trucking. Plus, DAT was a RB in college and although Hamler has had a few RB touches, he’s played his career so far as a WR.

When I first found him, I expected to find a player replacement for the kind of inside the hashmark moves Cody Thompson could produce before he was cut and then scooped up by the Seattle Seahawks last Summer. I bring Thompson up because he had Julian Edelman-esk moves and I thought there was a place for him in Reid’s system to provide targets for Patrick Mahomes, someone who could sit down in the empty spaces of a zone defense.

With Hamler, he didn’t turn out to be that kind of WR (although I understand he is both quick and fast), so much as a speed guy who could give the offense, and Reid, another tool. He also gives the Chiefs an option if Hill or Hardman ever get injured. Beyond that, he is a dynamic wideout who has plenty to offer and he’s been getting attention from other teams. In a draft filled to the brim with very good wideouts, Hamler may have gotten lost in the mix and would certainly have been a much higher pick in any other draft. 

Let’s take a look at some of his work and maybe you’ll see what I’m seeing, and what Veach and Reid have seen, I’m sure. Here, he shows off his speed on a slant pattern for an 88 yard touchdown catch-and-run against Ohio State, no shabby opponent:

Mind you, that was Hamler in just the 5th game of his freshman year. Here, he scores a 58 yard touchdown but it’s his double-juke move that leaves the CB on the ground as he dances his way to the end zone which is impressive to me.

His stats aren’t outstanding except, his average per touch is excellent:

If Hamler were to fall to the end of the 4th round when the Chiefs pick, he’d be a terrific value and some are saying he’ll be available there. While DrafTek has him ranked 61st on their big board, CBSSports only has him at 70th overall.

I’m sure Saquon Barkley said this about KJ Hamler because he went to Penn State too but, he hopes Hamler will go early in the draft:

“I hope he goes first round, but you never know. He’s elusive, he’s explosive, he’s dangerous with the ball in his hands. Maybe I’m biased because, you know, he rocked the blue and white.”

There are just too, too many excellent wideouts in this draft for that to happen, but in any other draft, Hamler is probably a 2nd round pick, at least. Be sure and turn your sound off before watching this next video but here he shows off that speed again:

That pass traveled 52 yards in the air. Sound familiar? As with so many other plays I’ve watched on Hamler, he outruns the defense placing himself wide open far beyond the coverage. Patrick Mahomes would love another WR who could get that wide open. Here are three other examples of Hamler outrunning the coverage:

I’m not a fan of the “Delayed Kickoff Return” but here Hamler shows why Dave Toub would be interested in him too:

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Cornerback Alert: Chris Williamson

While looking up more information on KJ Hamler, I came across this play when Penn State faced Minnesota where CB Chris Williamson makes a great play on a ball meant for K.J. at the edge of the end zone:

The little known Williamson is 6-foot-0 and 198 lbs. out of Minnesota. DrafTek has Williamson at 266 overall and CBS Sports has him at 370. Maybe Veach can talk him into a post-draft UDFA contract if he’s still not drafted.

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Here’s a couple of Eagles fans talking for 2:18 about whether to take KJ Hamler or Patrick Queen at #21:

The point is, some are touting KJ Hamler now as an early pick and he may end up going in the 2nd round after all. I’ve also seen interest from the Buffalo Bills as Hamler has had one of his visits (online I presume) with them. Here’s what Hamler had to say about running the 40 yard dash:

Wouldn’t it be great to have three speed freak wide receivers on the roster — Hill, Hardman, and Hamler — for the next four or five years? We might have to rename them the “Three Tyreeks.”

On the Other Hand

At the moment, CBS Sports has Hamler as the 11th best WR so if he does go early (rounds one or two) that means many more high quality draft picks will get bumped down to the Chiefs for picks 32 and 63 because… this year the Bump Method is more prevalent than ever.

Either way, if Hamler is a later pick by the Chiefs… they win… and if he goes early… they win. Either way, it’s a win-win situation.

Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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