The Chiefs no longer have a wide receiver problem after stealing another worthy solution in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Their trade with the Bills to draft rookie Xavier Worthy late in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft is already paying off after one big game of big plays that led to a 27-20 win over rival Baltimore.
Worthy showed off his record 40-yard dash speed from the NFL Combine on his first touch in Thursday night's marquee season opener, jetting into the end zone on a 21-yard rush.
The first time Xavier Worthy touched the football in an NFL game: pic.twitter.com/aiHjHFK1Q8
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 6, 2024
He shut the door later with his second catch, a 35-yard deep shot from Patrick Mahomes that led to Worthy streaking for another touchdown.
TOUCHDOWN NUMBER 2 FOR 1‼️ pic.twitter.com/f6RohvdXNi
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 6, 2024
Mahomes and Kansas City's passing game had some kinks against a strong Baltimore pass rush and secondary, but Worthy got open downfield and second-year wide receiver Rashee Rice led the team with seven catches for 103 yards on nine targets, making everyone forget it was a shaky night for a Mahomes and a quiet one for tight end Travis Kelce.
MORE CHIEFS-RAVENS:
Lamar's missed throws | Final play | Likely's breakout | Rice's big game | Ravens' O-line penalties
Xavier Worthy stats vs. Ravens: Rookie debut puts rest of NFL on notice
Worthy had a huge impact on a 27-20 victory despite turning just four debut opportunities (three catches) into 68 yards and two TDs. Worthy was the ideal lightning-quick complement to Rice — enough to make Chiefs fans feel like he's already the second coming of Tyreek Hill.
The Chiefs knew their wideout corps needed upgrading the past two offseasons because it was obvious they had been weak in that area after trading Hill to the Dolphins. Despite getting a fine rookie campaign from Rice as a No. 55 overall second-round pick, they jumped back up to No. 28 overall to add Worthy this year.
Worthy was picked after the Chiefs took a shot on former Ravens and Cardinals field-stretching receiver Marquise Brown in 2024 free agency. In the 2024 draft, the wide receiver-needy Bills traded down with the Chiefs to allow the latter to make their Worthy selection. Likewise in the '23 draft, rivals such as the Chargers (Quentin Johnston) and Ravens (Zay Flowers) took other wide receivers in the first round before the Chiefs got Rice.
The Chiefs were still careful about expanding Worthy's role too much in his debut despite Brown missing the game with a shoulder injury. Mahomes targeted eight players, spreading the ball around to Kelce and others when the chunk plays weren't there for Rice and Worthy. The early running of Worthy also gave an extra boost to relentless but mostly inefficient power from Isiah Pacheco.
Worthy wasn't the only big rookie contributor. Second-round left tackle Kingsley Suamataia had some pass protection issues against a tough Ravens' rush, but was prevalent with his athletic blocking upside on Worthy's scoring run. Those two players have shored up some key holes in the Chiefs' quest for an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title.
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The Chiefs' three-ring core has been Mahomes, Kelce, and defensive tackle Chris Jones, but youth keeps serving well to make them stronger. Ten of their starters vs. the Ravens on offense, defense, and special teams were in the draft class of 2023 or later.
Coach Andy Reid and GM Brett Veach keep hitting on draft picks who become foundational players quickly, whether they are taken in first-round (Worthy), second round (Rice, Suamataia), or seventh round (Pacheco).
It's not fair to the Ravens, the rest of the AFC, and the entire NFL how the Chiefs have reloaded around Mahomes after he led them to back-to-back Super Bowl wins.
Their latest draft steal of Worthy already has been a huge factor in widening the gap between them and the wannabe contenders to their throne.
