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Andy Reid plans to turn Tyreek Hill into DeSean Jackson

By Matt Conner

Jan 1, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) runs with the ball during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chiefs won 37-27. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) runs with the ball during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chiefs won 37-27. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Andy Reid let the media in on an interesting tidbit about how the Chiefs have projected Tyreek Hill as No. 1 all along.

Is Tyreek Hill ready to take over as the Kansas City Chiefs’ primary offensive weapon? Certainly that seems to be the case at wide receiver. With the release of Jeremy Maclin, Hill is the most accomplished receiver on the roster, a breakthrough rookie in 2016 whose speed is unparalleled in the NFL. The former fifth round pick is now on the cusp of being a household name, playing the role of DeSean Jackson in Andy Reid’s imaginative offense.

The questions surrounding the wide receivers on the roster include Hill, who will need to learn and develop next season as a second year player, but Andy Reid told reporters on Thursday that they’ve actually been analyzing Hill’s aptitude for the job throughout his rookie year.

"You have to make sure they have the aptitude. We experimented with him in that area last year and we found out he’s got good capacity and can recall it quickly and he’s able to make adjustments, so we’ve tried to expand his role a little bit.  Does he need to continue to learn, yes. He’s a second year player, so he’s got to continue to learn and work hard and do those things, but he’s a pretty sharp kid."

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If Hill can follow DeSean Jackson’s trajectory, the Chiefs offense will be in good shape. Jackson had a better rookie campaign than Hill overall with 1,008 yards from scrimmage, but Hill came on stronger at season’s end and looks like he’s plenty capable of putting up Jackson’s numbers. Jackson was not only a primary receiver for the Eagles for six seasons, but he was also a dynamic punt returner for the first few as well, returning 2 punts for touchdowns during his second season.

If Reid and his coaching staff have been testing Hill to see if he can make the leap to Jackson’s role and productivity, then the insecurity surrounding the loss of Maclin and the question marks on the depth chart fades quite a bit. Given the Chiefs moves, Hill has passed any and all tests concerning aptitude, which means the Chiefs might enjoy a top-tier offensive talent for years to come.

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