The Chiefs Wide Receiver Hole

Laddie Morse

Ever since Andy Reid came to town, the ChIefs have had an excellent collection of Wide Receivers… that is, until last year. Think Dwayne Bowe who was here in Reid’s first couple of seasons — 2013 and 2014 — then paired with Dexter McCluster and Donnie Avery plus the speedy and shifty D’Anthony Thomas in year two… they were a pretty good grouping of wideouts. In 2015, Reid added Jeremy Maclin and Chris Conley plus UDFA Albert Wilson and we were fairly impressed. I recall a Training Camp catch by Albert Wilson along the sidelines. Great catch. In 2016, K.C. added Tyreek Hill and Demarcus Robinson and things began to evolve.

In 2017, QB Alex Smith’s last year in K.C., Tyreek Hill jumped to over 1,000 yards receiving, but it was the same year that the Chiefs jumped up in the draft to take arguably the best QB to ever play the game: Patrick Lavon Mahomes II. In 2018, Smith was traded away to the Washington team and Mahomes took over as the Chiefs starting QB. PMII won the NFL MVP Award in his first season as a starter and all WRs helped in the process including: Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Albert Wilson, Demarcus Robinson, Marcus Kemp, & Jehu Chesson.

ESPN Pressroom – Photo Credit

.

In 2019, the Wide Receiving corp included: Mecole Hardman, Tyreek Hill, Byron Pringle, Demarcus Robinson, and Sammy Watkins. This was perhaps the pinnacle for the WRs. The Chiefs went on to win Super Bowl LIV that year as a result.

In 2020, the Chiefs ended up in the Super Bowl again but lost it to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and mostly because their offensive line was riddled with injuries. K.C.’s WR group included: Mecole Hardman, Tyreek Hill, Byron Pringle, Demarcus Robinson, and Sammy Watkins… plus Marcus Kemp who returned IR. This was also the last year for Sammy Watkins. One play I’ll never for get made by Sammy Watkins was this (0:43):

.

.

That play was in the AFC Championship game and it put the Chiefs up by what would be a score of 35-to-17. That was a long time coming as it marked the first time I was sure K.C. was going to a Super Bowl… in 50 years.

In the 2021 season the Wide receivers were: Mecole Hardman, Tyreek Hill, Byron Pringle, Demarcus Robinson, and Marcus Kemp. That was the year they won the “13 Second Game” against the Bills then lost the AFC Championship to the Bengals.

In 2022, the offseason began auspiciously with the team moving on from Tyreek Hill who had become one the game’s best WRs ever. However, the team won their second Super Bowl in three years with a victory over the Eagles in SB LVII. Plus, they did it without Tyreek Hill. The WR room looked like this: Skyy Moore, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Justin Watson. This is when the Chiefs current WR problems began and when the “hole’ in the WR room started.

In 2023, the WR room was: Richie James, Skyy Moore, Rashee Rice, Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Justin Watson.

JuJu Smith-Schuster moved on, but was signed for a one-year deal previously by K.C. with the idea that one year later he’d get a big bag of money, which he did, but it was from the Patriots (3-years for $33M). Mecole Hardman was added to the roster later in the season when it was evident that the Jets were not going to use him. Hardman went on to catch the game winning TD in Super Bowl LVIII (0:10).

.

.

Now, Hardman remains a Free Agent and should probably not be brought back. While K.C. has signed the speedy and quick Marquise Hollywood Brown, he will likely fly the coup like JuJu did after one year in K.C.. Even if Hollywood stays in K.C. they have a huge hole to fill at WR and the situation with second year man, Rashee Rice, helps none at all. IOW, it hurts more than it helps.

Now that we’ve explored a briefs history of the WR room in K.C. over the past ten years or so, let’s take a look at their alternative.

Pictured in the Featured Graphic of this piece are (from left to right) Nikko Remigio, Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice. So, let’s talk about each of them.

Nikko Remigio has been seen working out this offseason with Patrick Mahomes. In 2023, Nikko has a dislocated left shoulder and the Chiefs eventually waived him with an injury designation.

.

.

Go to the :09 second mark to see Nikko Remigio (0:43).

.

.

Nikko was a UDFA WR for the Chiefs in 2023. He is 5-foot-11, and weighs 183 lbs. out of Fresno State. He looks good in practice with Mahomes, but I doubt he’ll make the final cut to 53 at the end of August (the 29th).

.

Hollywood Brown looks like an All-world WR. If he can stay healthy he looks like not only a lock to make the team, but he has the potential to become a WR #1. Do I think he’ll ever be used that way? No. I see him more as a field stretcher who can also make cuts anywhere on the field. He’s be great out of the slot and run routes at all three levels: short, intermediate, and deep. He should be able to keep the opposing defense honest… which means… they’ll have to keep two Safeties deep which also mean not only will their be more room for RB Isiah Pacheco to run up the middle, but there will also be more room for Travis Kelce to make his cuts and find his spacing on routes that are short or intermediate.

While it may sound like Hollywood Brown is the answer to all of the Chiefs WR problems, he isn’t. The Chiefs need another field stretcher like Brown, but also, one who can win off the line of scrimmage and get open at a moments notice and hold onto the ball. That would be critical for winning first downs on third and short, or third and medium, situations.

Rashee Rice will likely not be available at the beginning of this season. I expect his suspension — and make no mistake, he is getting suspended — which will be for four games but could end up being a two game suspension. Either way, I don’t think we can expect much out of him this season… not at the beginning anyway.

Here’s a list of WRs still available in Free Agency from YahooSports.com:

.

.

Here’s a list of WRs that may be available as listed by DrafTek.com and adapted by me:

.

DrafTek.com – Photo Credit

.

Rank = that player’s ranking at their position, and O/A = Overall Ranking. I added the 40 yards dash times in red.

These are the WRs that could each be available at pick #32, when K.C. makes there first move (I say “first move” instead of “first pick” because the Chiefs could end up trading that pick).

.

.

I agree with KCSN that the Chiefs still need to bolster their WR room. Since Brian Thomas Jr. is now ranked at pick #24, he’s a possibility for K.C.. I’d love to see that happen because I think Thomas could end up becoming the best WR in this draft class. I’m not a Keon Coleman fan and mostly because he’s slow and runs a 4.61 – 40-yard dash.

Here’s Peter Schrager with his OTHER top five WRs in this draft. What Schrager calls his Fabulous Five (4:16):

.

.

What do you think? Is there anyone you’d like to see the Chiefs sign or draft?

.

Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

.