David Bell
As strange as it may seem to the ArrowheadOne readers, I am very comfortable with the WR Group as a whole. Sure, Mecole Hardman is gone and so is JuJu Smith-Schuster. I had thought that Hardman would stick around due to injuries in 2022 and also felt that the Chiefs would try to retain JuJu. Hardman never fulfilled the promise that was apparent when he was drafted. JuJu, however, was an integral target for Mahomes in 2022. Neither player was retained and both moved on in Free Agency. So the missing contribution of Smith-Schuster is the most significant missing ingredient.
The Chiefs have WRs in-house who can run the gimmick plays with speed, such as the jet sweep: Toney, Moore, and Justin Ross for example. The catch total and yards will be easily replaced.
What I see is the Chiefs are comfortable with the 11 players in the WR group. What I envision is breakout-type seasons for Toney, Moore, and Ross. I expect MVS to build on his 2022 late-season heroics. I other words –> that’s 4 Hype Trains the Chiefs fans need to board.
This comes down from Andy Reid to OC Matt Nagy to WR Coach Connor Embree and Pass Play Coordinator Joe Bleymaier. GM Brett Veach takes the public lead, but if this coaching group doesn’t feel an urgency in signing a F/A WR, then neither do I.
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Chiefs Aerial Game Coaching Staff
Of course, the Chiefs offense operates under HC Andy Reid and Reid is a master at Pass Play design, which exploits the strengths of all the receivers with variations that fool defenses. This bodes well for OC Matt Nagy’s offense.
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Matty Nagy – Chiefs Offensive Coordinator – Chiefs photo credit
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Nagy moved on to Chicago as HC and compiled a 34-31 record there. In 2017, Nagy took on the OC role with the Chiefs. I think he will again test the waters as a Head Coach, perhaps in 2025 or 2026. I like Nagy. Nagy has a great rapport with QB Patrick Mahomes. The Bears won the NFC North Division once and guided the Bears to two playoff appearances while in Chicago. When he returned to the Chiefs last year, it was a fulfillment of the KC situation related to then OC, Eric Bieniemy. I projected Bieniemy moving on in 2023, which he did, and Nagy regaining the OC role, which happened. Note that Nagy was the 2018 Nagy, the 2018 Associated Press, and PFWA Coach of the Year as the Bears HC.
Since I view having Nagy work with Reid on the offense and renewing his work with QB Patrick Mahomes, it is my opinion that high positives arriving for the passing game in 2023. Under Nagy are WR Coach Connor Embree and Pass Game Coordinator Joe Bleymaier. I have a good deal of faith in Joe Bleymaier but I know little about Embree.
Bleymaier – mufcarena photo Credit
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With KC, Connor Embree has worked with both offensive and defensive roles before being promoted to WR Coach for 2023. Furthermore, we hear from Patrick Mahomes that he values the WRs on the crew and most are down in Texas working with Patrick as I type this. Yeah, it’s true, I am on the Justyn Ross Hype Train too.
Of Special note: Mahomes on Justyn Ross:
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Here is what Nate Taylor wrote about the off-season work with Mahomes in Texas: Mahomes figures to play a key role in the improvement of the Chiefs young receivers. Despite being just 27, Mahomes is older than his current crop of receivers — and he has more NFL experience than all of them.
Throwing sessions earlier this month featured Mahomes’ sharing his perspective on how he wants his receivers to run certain routes, the post-snap adjustments that can be made when anticipating and facing specific coverages from the opposing defense. A sizable number of the passes Mahomes threw to his receivers included the ball’s traveling more than 30 yards in the air.
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“I felt there were a couple of the deep throws (last season) that I didn’t hit that I usually do, just being able to hit those opportunities whenever I get them,” Mahomes said. “We don’t get a lot of them. We get a lot of two-high (safeties) coverage.”
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“Two receivers Mahomes wants to work closely with in the hope they can each have a breakout second season in the Chiefs offense are Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney. In the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl, Mahomes completed easy touchdown passes in the flat to both players. The Chiefs are expecting Moore and Toney to thrive in their roles with expanded snaps after veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman left this offseason.”
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“He’ll continue to take those steps and be even better this next year when he’s more comfortable and we can utilize his talents even more,” Mahomes said of Moore. He said of Toney: “You saw the upside last year with how special of a talent he can be. To have him working with coach (Andy) Reid and how we practice in training camp, I think he’ll have his body in the best shape he can possibly be in to be healthy all season long….We’re excited for those guys to take those next steps within the offense.” Excerpt from Nate Taylor’s (The Athletic) article today: “Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs pass catchers resume Texas workouts to build chemistry”
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This buttresses what I cover below! So, let’s take a deeper look!
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Marques Valdez-Scantling
Though JuJu was the go-to WR for Mahomes in 2022, as the season wound down and into the playoffs, MVS took on a crucial role successfully and helped KC get to, and win, Super Bowl LVII. It is my hope that we see the MVS we saw late in the year. If we get that player, the Chiefs are in Tall Cotton.
Skyy Moore
See the pure joy on Moore’s face – TD from the Super Bowl – AOL photo credit
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Before the season began, Laddie was very high on Skyy Moore, even thinking he would emerge as the #1 WR as the season progressed. This year, Laddie will be boarding the Moore Hype Train and I will join him.
Unfortunately, getting on the field was challenging –> due to the Andy Reid playbook. He further suffered a setback on special teams due to his muffing — fumbling — three punt returns. It took most of the season for Moore to get into the WR mix, but in the end, he was getting targets and scored a TD versus the Eagle in the Super Bowl. He even fielded a punt with a great return in the AFC Championship game too.
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I am not going to say that Moore will be the #1 WR, but I do think he will be a prominent target for QB Patrick Mahomes, one of the Top 3 WRs in his second year. I anticipate a breakout year as a receiver in 2023. Moore will have graduated to veteran status and he will have a year under his belt working with Patrick Mahomes. All pluses.
I expect Moore to explode on the NFL scene this fall. Here is what Mahomes thought about Moore’s rookie year, Mahomes also included Toney in his remark (see Toney below):
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More On Moore: The Bad News? He didn’t do well on the S/T’s role fielding punts. The good news is the last punt he took he made a great return in the AFC Championship. It was a big play. Want even better news? The Chiefs signed Giants WR Ritchie James who excels in punt and kick returns. This doesn’t mean I think Moore should be excluded from punt returns. It means he needs a lot of work in training camp.
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Kadarius Toney
Toney Tiptoes the sideline for a TD – BVMSports Photo credit
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As he took on a bigger role in the 2022 season, I grew to appreciate Kadarius Toney more and more. If there is a 2nd Hype Train –> I am aboard that one as well. Meanwhile, last year, the Chiefs traded third-round and sixth-round draft picks to obtain Kadarius Toney from the Giants. Veach made this move knowing that it would take a period of familiarization time for Toney to learn the playbook and to get familiar with his new Quarterback.
I have the exact same take as if it were a completion in 2023 (matching what Brett Veach had to say about Toney).
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As the season progressed, Toney saw more snaps and ended up with 16 receptions, for 171 yards and two TDs. As the season wound down he saw increasing snaps, validating the Chief’s faith in using a top-100 pick in the trade to obtain him. In early March, James Palmer tweeted about the targets who would be significant contributors to the Chiefs aerial attack (below). His view must have been supported by his familiarity with the Chiefs and perhaps a Chiefs team contact.
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What I note about Toney is that he was a first-round draft pick, #20 overall. To be sure, there is a worry about Toney’s style of play and being injury prone. That consideration must be part of the deal. On the other hand, if Toney fulfills his part of the bargain, he will end up being a steal, for the cost. He has already shown why that is the case. This is the 3rd Hype Train.
All Aboard!
KT is a constant threat to break loose and score. A joint #1 WR comprised of Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney would give Mahomes a dual threat if on the field at the same time, not to mention Travis Kelce coupled with the outlook of having both Noah Gray and Jody Fortson as legit targets when Travis is off the field, or from a 12-or-13 personnel offensive set.
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Justyn Ross
Mahomes(Left) and Ross – Outkick Photo credit
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The 4th Hype Train is due to depart the station soon. Justyn Ross gets his own Hype Train this year. I love it and believe it is happening as Mahomes indicates from working with Ross in the informal sessions in Texas. Mahomes lauds Ross’ effort and probable contribution for 2023 –> I want to start this section about Justyn Ross with some Patrick Mahomes quotes about Justyn Ross:
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When asked in an interview about Justyn Ross, Mahomes’ reaction and response were animated. See the interview video here:
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I see Ross as opening a true rookie season in 2023. This is important for the Chiefs. Ross was healing this past year, but was signed by Brett Veach last year. Bottom line is that all the talent will be aided with playbook familiarity and his time spent in Texas with Mahomes. I expect Justyn Ross to contribute early and mightily. Ross should start quickly and be a huge contributor if all things come out on the positive side.
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Ritchie James
Bringing James to the fold was a solid move by GM Brett Veach. He has the talent and ability to be a threat in the aerial game, also bringing special teams talent for Punt and Kick Returns.
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Justin Watson
Watson’s Over the Top TD vs. The Chargers, 2022 – KC Star Photo credit
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Watson had a rapport with QB Patrick Mahomes in 2022. He is back on a 2-year contract and I expect Watson to expand on his contribution from last year’s effort–that is the reason he returns. Here’s Justin Watson’s Pro Day stats from 2018:
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Cornell Powell
I had hopes for Cornell last year and was pleased when the Chiefs brought him aboard. I hope that 2023 finds him on the Active Roster and demonstrates fruition from the promise I saw on his college tape. There was a 2021 Short clip of Powell breaking the ankles of the covering DB, and scoring a wide-open TD. A quick look at a short video of how Powell fits can be viewed here (11:31):
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Other Chiefs Wide Receivers:
John Ross, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Jerrion Ealy, and Ty Fryfogle.
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Veach may still pull off a deal this coming week before the Draft, which is only 6 days away now. My summation tells the reader that I believe the Chiefs WR group has MVS and 4 players with Hype Trains coming to fruition. That is good stuff. These players are all on the roster, whether Brett Veach cuts a deal with a veteran like DeAndre Hopkins or not. (I wrote about D-Hop in a previous article called, “Brett Veach–Getting to: “Everything’s Up to Date in Kansas City” see, item #6).
Sure, this is a hopeful outlook for the WR Corps. I still think KC drafts a WR and it could be with the round-one pick. Both Quentin Johnston and Zay Flowers have had pre-draft visits with KC and Flowers has been requested to appear in Texas and has worked with Patrick Mahomes, which has already occurred. I’d venture to promote Johnston if he fell within reach of the Chiefs being able to move up in the draft pecking order to select him. His favorability appears to possibly drop his selection into the 20s. Flowers is a special player who is on the edge of the round-one and round-two boundary. Flowers is a much smaller WR, but possesses the talent to hit it big in the NFL.
It is possible that the Chiefs announce a trade over the next 6 days too, but I remain very positive about the guys on the roster already. There are things we can’t know about the various players on the Chiefs board… and quoting McKenzie Nelson’s tweet:
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That pretty much says it all. Brett Veach has covered the basics with the Free Agents signed. In his presser on Thursday, Brett Veach reviewed the additions to the roster and the outlook he has. See 6 parts of the Brett Veach presser below.
Number 1) Veach on Clark Hunt’s statement about not trading away the first round pick:
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Number 2) Veach on the strength of this draft class:
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Number 3) Veach on preparing for a draft day trade:
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Number 4) What attracts players to KC:
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Number 5) Veach on the Combine purposes:
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Number 6) Here’s Brett Veach revealing the talks with Jerick McKinnon:
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We go from there. Will he trade up? Stay pat? It’s possible that Brett Veach could strategically trade back, add another Top 100 prospect in the process and then scheme a trade-up to get one more. “Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison”!
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David Bell — ArrowheadOne
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