NFL Draft: Why the Chiefs Should Target Kelvin Benjamin

It’s no secret that the Kansas City Chiefs have a need at wide receiver.

Running back Jamaal Charles led the team in receptions with 70, and Dwayne Bowe–a former first round pick–finished with just 57 catches for 673 yards and five touchdowns. These stats, accompanied with a quarterback who doesn’t exactly scream “gunslinger”, resulted in the Chiefs being a run-first team without the ability to hit a home run, so to speak.

Jan 6, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (1) celebrates his winning touchdown catch against the Auburn Tigers during the second half of the 2014 BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City needs a deep threat that can stretch the field, keep defenses honest, and possibly take one defender out of the box to start the play. With the 23rd selection, and a wide receiver class that many experts label as the best in a long time, the Chiefs should be able to find that vertical threat.

Florida State’s Kelvin Benjamin could be that player.

Benjamin fits the bill as a prototypical NFL wideout. He’s big–6-foot-5 to be exact– and fast enough to instill fear in any opposing defenders’ eyes. Last year, as a redshirt sophomore for the Seminoles, Benjamin exploded on the scene. He caught 54 balls from Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston for 1,011 yards and 15 touchdowns. Though his 40-yard dash time (4.54) doesn’t suggest that Benjamin is the burner Andy Reid needs to create a more dynamic offensive attack in Kansas City, his stats do. He averaged 18.7 yards per reception last year while continually making a large chunk of those yards after contact.

An added plus about the possible selection of Benjamin is that he’s not exactly being talked about amongst the elite of this year’s draft. In fact, the Chiefs could probably trade back, accumulate some selections, and still have a chance at selecting Benjamin.

Currently, CBS Sports draft expert Rob Rang has Benjamin falling to the Seattle Seahawks with the last pick of the first round. Trading back to gather some more picks has to be a consideration amongst John Dorsey and the rest of the Chiefs’ management. Kansas City is without a second round pick in this year’s draft as fallout from the trade that brought Alex Smith to the Chiefs from San Francisco.

Regardless of when they decide to pull the trigger on a receiver in May’s draft, the Chiefs need to find someone that could make an impact immediately. With Benjamin’s raw skills, he could be the guy to make the Chief’s offense more dynamic next season.