Lisa Foxx
The Kansas City Chiefs have added a veteran wide receiver to their roster for the upcoming 2024 season. Marquis “Hollywood” Brown is officially a Chief after signing his contract on Monday at One Arrowhead Drive in Kansas City. The 5’9” 180-pound wide receiver comes to the Chiefs as a free agent on a 1-year/$7 million contract. With performance incentives Brown could earn up to $11 million.
Even with the addition of Brown to the roster the Chiefs are still in the market for another WR. They may find what they’re looking for in the NFL Draft coming up at the end of April. Most national analysts and draft specialists believe Kansas City will take a WR with the team’s only first round pick. With Brown now on the team the Chiefs have more flexibility to address other concerns in the first round.
.
.
Some fans think the team needs to shore up its offensive line and should take an o-lineman in round one. That, however, is not the sexy option. The Chiefs do need more help at the WR position if they don’t want to struggle in the passing game like they did last year during the regular season. Here are the top 15 choices coming out in the draft:
.
.
Despite the Chiefs WR woes last season, the team was able to overcome them and win the Super Bowl for the second straight year. So, the thought process in Chiefs Kingdom is if Kansas City was able to win the SB with a rag-tag group of receivers, just imagine what All-Pro quarterback Patrick Mahomes could do with proper, even dynamic receivers.
.
.
The Chiefs are attempting to do what no other team has done before, and that is to win three Super Bowls in a row. To do that, the team will need more weapons on offense this season. A question for the Chiefs is, which WR will they target in the draft? Another question is, will the Chiefs use a first-round pick on a WR? Since this draft class is so deep at the position will they wait and try to get a high-quality player at a better value in round two?
.
.
Some players’ draft stock increased after their performances in the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month. One player that everyone came out of the draft talking about is WR Xavier Worthy. Worthy broke the combine 40-yard dash record with a 4.21 clocking.
.
.
That performance puts the junior out of Texas in the conversation of many teams who want a fast WR in the first round. His speed is what the Chiefs need in the passing game, but his size leaves a question mark about his future success in the league (1:04).
.
.
Worthy is 5’11” tall and weights 165 pounds. His frame is slight for an NFL player. True, there are others who have found success with a smaller frame, but it will be a concern for teams who are looking to possibly add Worthy to their roster (1:04).
.
.
Another name that has been associated with the Chiefs is Adonai Mitchell (see above). Mitchell is also a junior out of Texas. His 6’2” 205-pound frame is better suited for the NFL and he is fast. Mitchell clocked an impressive 4.34 40-yard dash time at the combine. Mitchell also has a better prospect grade with a 6.38, compared to a 6.23 for Worthy.
.
.
Mitchell may be a better fit for Kansas City than Worthy simply due to his size. The Chiefs have had smaller receivers over the past couple of seasons. Chiefs WRs have either been on the shorter or slender side, or both.
.
.
.
Of course, there’s always Ladd McConkey who is 6-foot-0, 185 lbs.:
.
.
.
Ladd McConkey might just be the ticket:
.
.
Tyreek Hill, who was a main target for Mahomes when he played in Kansas City, stands 5’10” tall and weighs in at 190 pounds. Although he is a smaller receiver, Hills speed and dynamic play ability puts him in a class by himself. Marquez Valdez-Scantling, who was released at the end of February, is tall at 6’4”, but he is also slender (205 lbs) and couldn’t compete for 50/50 balls effectively. Mecole Hardman is another Chiefs receiver that is considered small-ish for the NFL. Hardman is 5’10” and 185 pounds.
The Chiefs do have a bigger WR in 2023 rookie Rashee Rice. It took the 6’1” 205-pound WR from SMU half the season to get adjusted to the Chiefs offense, but he came on strong late and put up impressive numbers. Rice broke the NFL postseason record for most receptions by a rookie the with 26 (1:02).
.
.
Justin Watson is a 6’2” 215 lbs. WR who joined the Chiefs in 2022 as a free agent from Tampa Bay. His size is enviable, but Watson doesn’t play to his size. He plays smaller than his build suggests. Plus, although somewhat inconsistent, Watson has made some incredible catches for the team over the last two seasons and has come up big in clutch situations (0:10).
.
.
Mahomes has voiced his desire to be able to throw to a big, capable WR. There are others in the upcoming draft who fit that bill. But will those players still be available when it’s the Chiefs turn to select a player?
Xavier Legette (6’1, 221) out of South Carolina, Keon Coleman (6’3”, 213) from Florida State, and Rome Odunze (6’3”, 212) from the University of Washington all fit the bill. Will any of them be on the board when the Chiefs make their selection at 32?
.
.
Ladd McConkey is another real possible option for the Chiefs. The junior from Georgia is only 6’0” and 185 pounds, but he players bigger than his size. He had a great combine performance and is slated to be a late first- or early second-round pick. McConkey could be a good fit for the Chiefs. He also has impressive speed, having run the 40 yd dash at the combine in 4.39 seconds.
.
Rome Odunze will probably not be there for K.C. to take, but he has as high an upside as any WR in this class:
.
.
No one truly knows what the Chiefs scouting department is thinking regarding the draft. All anyone can do is speculate. What is known is the Chiefs need another WR, and preferably one that the team can both develop and utilize immediately.
Rookie WRs tend to struggle with coach Andy Reid’s offense, at least at first. The success of rookie Rashee Rice last season gives Chiefs fans hope that the next rookie WR can find the same success in his first season with the team. Who that will be is the question everyone is waiting to have answered.
.
Lisa Foxx — ArrowheadOne
.