The WR Crew: Who’s Cookin’? Who’s Not?

David Bell

This is a fun topic. I am thinking about the possibilities of the WR Group, which in my not so very humble opinion, is going to be a powerful force for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. The Chiefs will cut down the roster next Tuesday by 3 PM CDT from 90(91) to 53.

I thought that a good way to address the WRs, is to go through the list of potential players for the Roster and rank them, Hot, Medium or Luke-Warm, Trade?, Cold-Cut, PS, Dark Horse, or Back burner so that’s how I will proceed.

  • #1 Marquise Brown – Back Burner but soon Hot!(Brown emerges as #1 WR)
  • #2 Rashee Rice – Hot! (looks like no suspension in 2024)
  • #3 Xavier Worthy – Hot! (before the team gets to the bye, he begins busting chops)
  • #4 Justin Watson – Medium (Patrick has an affinity for Watson as a target)
  • #5 Mecole Hardman – Medium (He offers too, much to ignore)
  • #6 Justyn Ross – Hot! Can Ross ascend to a roster role? I think he will do it in 2024
  • #7 Skyy Moore – Luke-Warm…Trade? (What has he done? Nothing to write home about)
  • #8 Nikko Remigio – Hot! Has a ticket according to fans, S/Ts coach Dave Toub, and even many of the Chiefs analysts
  • #9 Kadarius Toney – Luke-Warm(Coaches still believe in him but Toney has missed time on the field and HC Andy Reid was observed just that at a recent Presser)
  • # 10 Cornell Powell – Dark Horse (probably Powell’s last shot). PS or nothing
  • #11 Montrell Washington – PS
  • #12 Phillip Brooks – Cold-Cut

#1: Marquise Brown – due to his injury on the first play of the offense vs the Jaguars, and since he will miss time between now to some game after week one(as yet undetermined). Hollywood is getting a “Back Burner” rating. Also, I believe that a 1,000-yard season is likey from Brown.That will change of course but this evaluation is about who they will be at the Season Opener. Brown will miss that game so it’s the only valid rating I can give him. The only 2024 game tape we have is the first play of the game vs. the Jaguars and he was injured on that play.

#2 Rashee Rice – is a Possession WR (old vernacular): a 1,000-yard receiving season is possible for Rice. From all that I can see, Rice had a very good camp and appearances in preseason games taking off where he left off last season. He provides what Sammy Watkins did for Alex Smith and that has been a missing ingredient. That’s good news, to mix in with Brown and Worthy (below). I do not view Rice as a #1 WR. He is a possession-type WR.

#3: Xavier Worthy – There is no doubt in my mind that Worthy can work the field and he will create separation on demand. He is a WR#1 type player. The only question that exists, is can his body hold up to NFL punishment. I am going to predict he will break in quickly(and out) and become a frequent target of QB Patrick Mahomes. 1,000 yards is possible, even in year one.

Worthy creates separation easily, as this play demonstrates:

I can’t wait with patience. I want to see Worthy and Brown lined up on the same play and watch the panic set in for the opposing team’s secondary defenders, especially with Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce on the field.

#4: Justin Watson – Watson does have some speed and mixes and matches with other WRs of the crew. He is also trusted by QB Patrick Mahomes and that goes a long way to determining Watson is a member of the WR Crew.

#5: Mecole Hardman – Yes, Hardman will get another year as a Chief. He contributes as a WR, in the ground game, and on special teams. Mecole needs no introduction. His speed as a WR is well known and his use on the ground is an added value with the Jet Sweep. See an example, here:

He also provides added value for Special Teams and he did score the game-winner in Super Bowl LVIII (0:21):

Speed and the twofold added value was the reason Brett Veach reached out and brought him back to KC.

#6: Justyn Ross – I didn’t think that I would conclude that Ross would make the roster. But I did arrive at that judgment due to preseason game performance. Leigh Oleszczak penned an article with the question “Has Ross Done Enough to Earn a Roster Spot With the Chiefs?” That piece asks the right question, but doesn’t answer it. I think Ross finally makes the active roster. Leigh does say:

You can also get a glimpse of a route and catch by Ross that highlights the skillset Ross possesses:

#7 Skyy Moore? – I’d like to say that Moore will get traded. He has done nothing since being drafted, but he was a higher pick (a 3rd rounder). For that reason, and that alone, I think Moore makes the roster. All things Dave Toub? Moore is gone and Nikko makes the cut. I have growing disappointment in Moore in his time in KC.. Due to that, and overall talent in the WR Crew that supersedes what Moore brings to the table… he just doesn’t have added value for Special Teams.

#8: Nikko Remigio – I am not sure if Nikko will make the cut, but he has had a marvelous camp and preseason. The value of Remigio over Moore is quite clear to me, but will S/T coach Dave Toub get his way?

His punt return demonstrates his value to S/T Coach, Dave Toub and his reaction!

#9: Kadarius Toney – I hate to say this, but I think KT gets cut while others have a different view than I about Toney. Can he contribute and stay on the field, or not? My perception is the general Chiefs fans don’t see the value of Toney with the ball in his hands. Odd things happen in football… KT may suffer a carpet burn and go to the IR before the cut-down day.

#10: Cornell Powell – Ditto, to the PS, though Powell for the first time since being drafted in 2012, looks good in the WR role. I was a big supporter of the drafting of Powell when it happened. He is 2 years out from proving it, and now 3 years into his career. See his 64-yard catch and run, here:

At this point, I don’t think he has done enough to force the issue. My view is they retain him and he goes to the PS.

#11: Montrell Washington – I think Montrell goes to the PS but he’s had a good camp. He has not impressed enough to consider him to be anything but an extra wheel. However, he could be a talent to call up to the active roster if an injury occurs among the active players.

#12: Phillip Brooks – cold-cut.

I cannot ascertain for sure if my list of players who make up the WR Corps is correct or not. I wanted KT to make it, but I think he gets the axe this time. I like Remigio, but he is on the edge and competing with Skyy Moore. I’d really like to see Moore traded and as it is, I list 6 WRs ahead of him.

I think that this is what rules against Nikko, unfortunately. I think it’s easy to see Nikko as a WR in this single play as he hand-fights the defender and gets a reception over the top.

I can’t say that Cornell Powell or Kadarius Toney will depart the team for sure, but both could go to the PS again. I believe Remigio is multi-valued (as a WR & to Dave Toub’s Special Team) but due to Skyy Moore, he also would go to the PS. Besides this note, I don’t foresee the Chiefs retaining 7 WRs to the active roster. Currently, the Chiefs roster 12 WRs so my list for the PS is Powell, Remigio, and Washington. Again, I would like to see Moore traded to get at least a low draft pick.

Limited to only Brooks at this time… WRs on the active roster and players to the PS use 11 of the players on the 90-man roster.

David Bell — ArrowheadOne