Chiefs: What to Make of the Wide Receivers

by Paul Pulley

Chiefs: what to make of the wide receivers – although there are several position groups that have considerably more question marks about how they will perform on the field, there may not be a position that has more questions as to who will be on the field than the wide receivers. The question isn’t whether or not the players will be able to make plays, but is… who will be available to suit up on game days.

#10 Tyreek Hill

I debated with myself  as to whether or not to begin with Hill, but in all honesty, Tyreek Hill is the key to the entire receiver roster. With no off-season, off-field shenanigans, Hill would be the unquestioned number one receiver in head coach Andy Reid’s offense. However, Hill once again, had an attack of the stupids and said something — and maybe did something — that he shouldn’t have.

None of us have any clue as to what has actually transpired in Hill’s life, all we’ve heard or read is a snippet of a secretly recorded conversation and a few leaked reports of what may or may not have happened. Unfortunately, the vast percentage of what we hear is through certain media outlets, that have no scruples and very little, if any, honesty. Now that the truth has arisen that the child’s arm was broken in a pure and simple accident, is proof enough that the media values sensationalism over accuracy.

I’m not defending any of Tyreek Hill’s actions or spoken words, nor am I going to condemn him for something none of us have more than a minuscule bit of knowledge about. Shoot, if HC Andy Reid is confused about the legal proceedings and what is happening in Hill’s case, how can any of us have a clue.

The only thing we know, is that the Kansas City Chiefs, via Hill’s agent, has requested that Hill stay away from all team activities, but for how long, we just don’t know. We assume that the team is waiting on the conclusion of some type of legal procedure, but again, we simply have no facts, and so until Hill is allowed to return to the team and participate in practices, I’m going to surmise that he won’t be on the team.

#14 Sammy Watkins

Watkins has had a number of injury problems throughout his career, but he is now saying that he is completely healthy and in the best shape his career. If indeed Watkins is, and can, stay healthy, he has the potential to lead the NFL in receiving. Being the number one receiver in his second year of coach Reid’s offense, with the league’s best quarterback throwing him the ball, Watkins will have the chance to record some record challenging stats.

#11 Demarcus Robinson

I believe too many people are sleeping on DRob this season. The fact is that Robinson has more experience in coach Reid’s offense, plus more experience working with QB Patrick Mahomes, than any other wide receiver currently on the roster. A number of people claim that Robinson struggles with route running and being where he is supposed to be on any given play, but without knowledge of Reid’s playbook, I can’t speak to the authenticity of this. What I have witnessed, is DRob, when given the opportunity, making a lot of plays when Mahomes ad-libs, and Mahomes ad-libbing happens enough that a player such as DRob is a necessity. Reid’s system values experience and I just can’t see Robinson losing playing time with no other experienced WR on the roster other than Watkins.

#13 Byron Pringle 

After signing as a UDFA in 2018 and a promising pre-season last year, Byron Pringle ended up on Injured Reserve list and was lost for the season. Prince has good size, 6-foot-1 and 203 lbs. with decent speed, 4.45-40 and entering his second season, he should be getting a good grasp of Andy Reid’s offense. So, I’m expecting Pringle to make the 53-man roster and provide the Chiefs with a good number of valuable offensive snaps.

#17 Mecole Hardman

The first player drafted by the Chiefs in 2019, Hardman is a speedster that should give the Chiefs a good receiving weapon for years to come. With Hardman matriculating from Georgia, a school that doesn’t really value the passing game, he has minimal experience running advanced routes in a complex passing offense. There are things being said about Hardman’s intelligence and ability to learn quickly, and I have no reason to doubt this, but if one ruminates about past draft classes, the same things were said about Chris Conley and Tyreek Hill. I’m certain Hardman will see plenty of playing time, especially on special teams, returning punts and maybe even kickoffs. We could even see him running some jet sweeps and possibly some go routes. By mid-season, we will probably start to see Hardman getting a few more offensive snaps during games and will see his production start to build as the season wears on.

#19 Marcus Kemp

Marcus Kemp is a tall, 6-foot-4, 210 lbs, UDFA for the Chiefs in 2017 who is entering his third season for Kansas City. Kemp spent his first season on the Practice Squad, but was on the 53-man roster for the 2018 season. However, Kemp was seldom on the 46-man game-day roster and had just one reception last season.

#12 Gehrig Dieter

Dieter is starting his third year as a Kansas City Chiefs wideout, spending almost the entirety of his first two seasons on the Practice Squad. Dieter has good hands, but lacks speed. Based on the potential of some of the several new UDFAs currently on the roster, Dieter may struggle to remain with the team this year, as his ceiling seems to be pretty low.

There are a number of new UDFA WRs on the off-season 90-man roster. These include:

#83 Cody Thompson

Thompson has reportedly looked good in OTAs. He runs good routes and has good hands, but is another player that lacks speed. How he performs in training camp when the pads go on, and his ability on special teams, may determine if he has a future on the team for 2019.

#84 Jamal Custis

Jamal Custis is an intriguing prospect. He is tall, listed at 6-foot-5 at chiefs.com, he has very long arms and huge hands. Custis has decent speed for a big guy running a 4.5 – 40 yard dash and is athletic. However, like most rookies, needs to add strength. He lacks experience as a WR, but I could see the Chiefs putting Custis on the practice squad and if he can gain 20 or 25 pounds without losing his speed and athleticism, he might project as a number 2 tight-end in 2020.

#80 Felton Davis

Davis is another large UDFA WR at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds that the Chiefs have brought in to compete. Davis was a top receiver at Michigan St. but missed the end of his college career and the scouting combine due to an Achilles injury. Davis has shown good collegiate receiving skills and this was without much help from the QB position. Davis has shown the ability to win contested jump balls, but his lack of speed and quickness is a concern.

Wide Receivers Conclusion

There are two or three more receivers that are currently on the roster, but none that have a realistic shot of making it through cut-downs in September.

The WR competitions should be a very real and exciting thing thing to watch during training camp and the preseason games. Excluding Hill, there are only four locks for the roster going into camp: Watkins, Robinson, Hardman and Pringle are sure bets. With the Chiefs likely to keep 6 WRs on the 53 man roster, and if Hill is going to miss significant time, there should be a great battle for the final spots in this position group. Special Teams coordinator Dave Toub could have a huge say in how this pans out.

Although we have players that have been with the team for a couple of years, the new UDFAs have a higher ceiling. The availability of Hill, coupled with Reid’s confidence in Watkins staying healthy, may determine if the Chiefs choose potential over experience.

Paul Pulley — ArrowheadOne

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