The Lazy Big Board: Chiefs Targets at Wide Receiver

The Lazy Big Board: Chiefs

Targets at Wide Receiver

by Ransom Hawthorne | April 10, 2019

Coming into the Kansas City Chiefs offseason, WR was barely on anyone’s radar. It should have been. Even before the possibility of losing Tyreek Hill loomed, Sammy Watkins has been injury prone, and is a potential trade, or cut, next year. In addition to that, the depth, behind them is unproven at best, and non-existent, at worst. Even if you think Demarcus Robinson is a quality #3, he’ll be a FA next year, and the Chiefs are unlikely to keep him, along with Hill and Watkins. In a deep WR class, the Chiefs should at least double dip. Keeping the offense humming needs to be a priority. The defense is getting better, but they won’t be anywhere close to carrying the load, this year.

Pick 29 WR Parris Campbell, Ohio State 6” 205 lbs: Speed and quickness monster. Fastest WR, at the combine, with a blazing shuttle time, to go with it. Will need to learn to run NFL routes, as his college offense was relatively simple. Should be a great #3 receiver, who can return kicks, while he refines his route running. Athletic upside to be a true #1 WR. Speed and quickness will make him a very tough cover, especially when Mahomes buys time, with his feet. Good YAC target, and is slippery, with the ball in his hands. Chiefs struggled against cover 1 and cover 0, man looks, last year. Adding another serious speedster might make teams think twice about such looks, as Campbell can quickly turn a short outlet pass into a TD.

Pick 61 or 63 WR Terry McLaurin, Ohio State 6′ 208 lbs: Fast receiver who runs good routes. Big football character. Loves STs play, and blocking. Smart player, who can pick up the offense quickly. Protects his QB, on errant throws, saving some interceptions, in his time at Ohio State. Not quite as quick as Campbell, but, a really good athlete. Think his transition to the league will be quicker, even if his ceiling isn’t quite as high (as Cambell’s). Should be an instant starter at #3 WR, with the upside to be a very good #2.

Pick 92 WR Miles Boykin, Notre Dame 6‘4” 220 lbs: Boykin came out of nowhere to blow up the combine, but when you turn on the tape, you can see it’s not a fluke. Boykin is a work in progress, from a technique standpoint, but I love his size, speed and physicality. Love to see the way he gets his hands into CBs, and fights back. The polishing process might take some time, but Boykin has 1^st round talent, waiting to be unlocked, and the attitude necessary to take advantage of it. Flashes the traits to be a dominant outside receiver. Explosion numbers are absolutely insane. Boykin will be, what fans thought Conley could be.

Pick 167 WR Jalen Hurd, Baylor 6‘ 5” 226 lbs: Huge, shifty, receiver who does most of his damage after the catch. Former Tennessee RB who’s still learning to be a WR. Route tree is a work in progress. Great option as a dump-off, or possession WR, right away, and should be a nice addition on STs. Hurd might not ever be more than a 4^th WR, but he has special traits, that Reid can work into the offense. Extensive experience, as a RB adds to his versatility and value. Shouldn’t have any trouble carving out a role, on offense, within a year or two.

Pick 201 WR Stanley Morgan, Nebraska 6′ 202 lbs: Fierce competitor, with great hands. He doesn’t have top notch speed, but he’s fairly explosive and fluid. Top producer for a Nebraska passing attack, that wasn’t particularly great. Sports long arms, big hands and good physicality. Should fit in as a depth receiver with some possession traits, that will allow him to produce, in spot duty. Effort level should translate well, to STs.

Pick 214 or 216 WR Cody Thompson, Toledo 6’1” 205 lbs: Not the fastest WR, but Thompson is very fluid. Runs good routes, and has soft hands. Willing blocker and football smart player. Lack of high end speed makes him vulnerable to press coverage, on the outside. Career will have to start in the slot. Thompson should be a standout, on STs, and a decent option, as a slot receiver. If he can learn to release better, against press coverage, he’s got the size to play outside. Got a lot of yards after catch, in college, due to balance and effort. Team captain, and the kind of guy you want in your locker room.

This WR class is stacked, and Chiefs have a need there, going forward. In my personal opinion, they need to spend one their first four picks on a receiver. I think my first pick would be Miles Boykin. Yes, he’s not a finished product, but his ceiling is crazy high, and I think he’d be a great target for Mahomes, and future replacement for Watkins.

Honorable Mentions

Marquis Brown: Brown’s ability as a playmaker is beyond question, but I have doubts that any player, who checks in under 180 lbs, can last long in the NFL.

Emanuel Hall: A great deep threat, and super explosive player. I love Hall’s athletic traits, as much as I hate his effort level. Dropped passes are a problem. Chiefs offense is complex. You can’t be lazy and pick it up. I just don’t see the fire, in Hall, to make it in the NFL, despite his positive qualities, but I hope I’m wrong, because, otherwise, he’s an exciting player.

Travis Fulgham: Fulgham’s athleticism likely makes him an UDFA, but he’s a stellar blocker. For teams who value running the ball, or do a lot of screen passes, he could be a valuable addition.

Jazz Ferguson: Ferguson has size, speed, and explosion, but his shuttle and 3-cone were pretty rough. If Chiefs think those issues can be fixed, along with his history of character problems, he could prove to be a great WR. If this class weren’t so deep, Ferguson would probably have made the board. Depending on how thing go, Chiefs may be able to secure him as an UDFA.

Ransom Hawthorne — ArrowheadOne

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