The Chiefs won back-to-back Super Bowls despite being less-than-stellar at the receiver position as a whole over the past two years.
To remedy that, Kansas City added Marquise Brown in free agency to pair with Rashee Rice and Justin Waston. They have some depth pieces at the position in Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore and Justyn Ross but still could look to elevate their 11-personnel as the rest of the NFL is gearing up to take them on in 2024.
Even though the Chiefs have the No. 32 pick in the first round, they're still in prime real estate to land an extremely talented receiver with it being the deepest position in this draft class. The rich get richer as Kansas City gives Mahomes another difference-maker at the position.
Here are six wide receivers the Chiefs could target in the first round.
Full draft target breakdowns: RB | TE | OT | S | CB | DT | EDGE
Chiefs 2024 NFL draft WR targets
Adonai Mitchell, Texas
Measurables: 6-foot-2 | 205 pounds | 32-inch arms | 6-foot-6 wingspan | 9-inch hands
Combine Numbers: numbers: 4.34 40-yard dash | 1.52 10-yard split | 39.5-inch vertical | 11-foot-4 broad
The size and speed combination of Mitchell for a quarterback the caliber of Mahomes feels like cheating. Typically, the Chiefs couldn’t win a Super Bowl, get slotted into the final pick of the first round and still be in striking range for a receiver this good. But due to the talent and depth of this class, that’s exactly what could happen. Kansas City may have to move up a couple of spots to secure one of the top names on this list but the move would be well worth it.
Mitchell can uncover quickly with his matrix-like moves off the line of scrimmage, start-to-stop ability, pull away speed and knack for making the adjusted, contested catch.
Xavier Worthy, Texas
Measurables: 5-foot-11 | 165 pounds | 31-inch arms | 6-foot-2 wingspan | 9-inch hands
Combine numbers: 4.21 40-yard dash | 1.49 10-yard split | 41-inch vertical | 10-foot-11 broad
The Chiefs can look to replace the electric speed that Tyreek Hill displayed in Kansas City to make for a nightmare trio in the passing game with Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Worthy, like Hill, is more than a speed receiver.
His speed is different and will have defensive backs overreacting to the smallest of fakes and it shows laterally as well as vertically. He also will elevate for the ball and show the ability to keep balance off of hits.
Worthy, like his Texas teammate, Mitchell, tracks the ball extremely well. Mahomes could target Worthy on screens, tunnels and drag routes and allow him to just eat up spacing as defenses would already have their hands filled trying to stop Isaiah Pacheco, Kelce, Brown and Rice on any given play.
Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
Measurables: 6-foot-3 | 209 pounds | 33-inch arms - 6-foot-8 wingspan | 10-inch hands
Combine numbers: 4.33 40-yard dash | 1.50 10-yard split | 38.5-inch vertical | 10-foot-6 broad | 11 bench reps
It appears that the consensus of reports coming out of the NFL community is that they’re extremely high on Thomas Jr. If true, the Chiefs may not have a play for him as there would be no need for the team to give up significant capital to move up more than a few spots to target any specific receiver.
Thomas Jr. would give Mahomes an upgrade over what they were hoping to achieve when they acquired Marquez Valdez-Scantling. Thomas Jr. uses his size and speed as a weapon, using it in unison to routinely beat zone coverage down the seam on a “go” route.
He did have concentration drops as well as lose on some contested passes. After the struggle the Chiefs saw with drop passes in 2023, Thomas Jr.’s issues in this regard may be enough to lead them in a different direction at the position.
Ladd McConkey, Georgia
Measurables: 6-foot-0 | 186 pounds | 30-inch arms | 6-foot-0 wingspan | 9-inch hands
Combine numbers: 4.39 40-yard dash | 1.52 10-yard split | 36-inch vertical | 10-foot-4 broad | 13 bench reps
McConkey is a route ninja that can quickly uncover against man or zone coverages. Mahomes has Kelce at the tight end position that wins consistently. Adding McConkey’s ability with the addition of Brown along with Year 2 of Rice would give Kansas City the consistency that was lacking in 2023.
A Mahomes-to-McConkey connection would flourish as the receiver works back to the ball, protecting his quarterback from pass breakups and interceptions. Off-coverage against McConkey is D.O.A. due to his instant stops and sharp cuts.
The reason McConkey could still be available when Kansas City gets on the clock is due to length. He has short arms and wingspan with hands less than 9-inches. The lack of length shows when he’s jammed off the line in press coverage and also while he’s attempting to block.
Keon Coleman, FSU
Measurables: 6-foot-3 | 213 pounds | 32-inch arms | 6-foot-6 wingspan | 9-inch hands
Combine numbers: 4.61 40-yard dash | 1.54 10-yard split | 38-inch vertical | 10-foot-7 broad
The Chiefs could stay at the No. 32 pick and still land one of the bottom trio of receivers listed here in Coleman, McConkey or Legette. Coleman has the size that McConkey lacks but he could be available when the Chiefs select mostly due to a slow 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine.
Despite the 4.61 40-yard time, he still ran the 10-yard split in 1.54 seconds. For comparison, a cornerback that’s expected to go in the first round of this draft, Nate Wiggins, ran a 4.28 40-yard dash with a slower 10-yard split at 1.59. Coleman’s timed speed isn’t a concern when you watch his film.
Coleman is a professional, possession wide receiver who understands all of the subtle nuances of the position to create separation. He leans on defensive backs at the top of the route with sharp cuts away from coverage. He’s dynamic using his size to win contested catches routinely. If selected by Kansas City he has the development at the position to contribute immediately.
Xavier Legette, South Carolina
Measurables: 6-foot-1 | 221 pounds | 32-inch arms | 6-foot-6 wingspan | 9-inch hands
Combine numbers: 4.39 40-yard dash | 1.54 10-yard split | 40-inch vertical | 10-foot-6 broad
Legette has the size, length, speed and athleticism for the position. When he goes up to high-point the ball he has a unique ability to seemingly float in the air. He elevates over defensive backs with an impressive vertical and wide catch radius and the ability to make the concentrated catch through traffic.
Legette has a great shake of the line and speed to evade jams from press-man cornerbacks. His breakdown is rapid and leads to an unstoppable comeback route. Even when coverage is tight Legette will still be open as a reliable back shoulder weapon for Mahomes.
Despite his size and athleticism, he doesn’t create the yards after catch that you may suspect. He’s a bigger guy with smaller legs that seems to get banged up at times with shots to his lower body but to his credit, manages to stay on the field.
Who will the Chiefs draft?
Thomas Jr. is currently predicted to go off the board before both Texas receivers on this list. He’s the most unlikely of these six receivers to join the Chiefs. Worthy’s speed would be the ideal replacement for Tyreek Hill since Hill was shipped to South Beach. Mitchell is the wildcard of this group as his stock seems to be anywhere from a top-15 pick to late in the 20s. If it plays out to where Mitchell is still available after the No. 25 pick, Kansas City needs to be on the phone to move up.
Coleman and Legette would be great additions to the Chiefs’ receiver group but McConkey feels like the hand-in-glove fit. Kansas City will either stay at the No. 32 pick or move up a couple of spots and draft McConkey.
