Is Phillip Dorsett right for the Kansas City Chiefs?
You may not have heard, but the Kansas City Chiefs did not get a touchdown from a receiver last year. This has lead to a complete overhaul at the position, with Dwayne Bowe getting jettisoned and Jeremy Maclin coming in with much fanfare.
The NFL Draft is another opportunity for general manager John Dorsey to make an acquisition at that spot, and most pundits believe Kansas City will do so with the 18th overall pick. Count me as a non-believer. Dorsey has always taken a long-view approach to drafting, and taking a receiver so high after spending $55 million on Maclin seems short-sighted.
However, the second or third rounds are prime locations to pick up a nice prospect. Enter Phillip Dorsett.
It is no secret Andy Reid loves receivers who can stretch the field and gain separation. With Alex Smith at the helm, getting a few yards of clearance from a defensive back is even more pivotal. This is where Dorsett shines. The University of Miami (FL) product caught 36 passes for 871 yards, giving him an outrageous 24.2 yards per reception. Additionally, Dorsett took it to the house 10 times in 2014.
At the NFL Combine in February, Dorsett ran a 4.33 40-yard dash, the best time among receivers (he was clocked at 4.29 and 4.27 seconds at his pro day). He also had a position-best of 6.70 seconds in the three-cone drill but showed limited strength with just 13 reps of 225 pounds on the bench. Reid has been known to say he needs receivers to get off jams or he won’t draft them. Can Dorsett get off a jam at the NFL level to use his speed? Tough question, but perhaps the main one that will determine if he joins the Chiefs.
Over at NFL.com, this is what was written about him in his draft profile:
Dorsett is an ascending prospect who has averaged more than 25 yards per catch since 2012. He can challenge teams vertically inside or outside and he has home-run potential after the catch as a slot receiver. With smaller wide receivers like T.Y. Hilton and Antonio Brown proving that small and fast can win in the NFL, Dorsett should be coveted by more than one team and has the potential to turn into a star in the NFL
So how about it, Addicts? Is Dorsett worth a mid-round pick?