Three Wide Receivers Kansas City Chiefs Could Draft
By Ben Nielsen
Jan 4, 2014; Birmingham, AL, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores wide receiver Jordan Matthews (87) carries the ball for a touchdown during the 2014 Compass Bowl against the Houston Cougars at Legion Field. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
JORDAN MATTHEWS
HEIGHT: 6-3 WEIGHT: 212
40: 4.44 3-CONE: 6.95 VERTICAL: 35 1/2
Rang’s comp for Matthews: Earl Bennett, Bears – Matthews joins Bennett as potentially the best receivers Vanderbilt has produced to the NFL in years. Matthews is two inches taller than Bennett, but share a similar concern about whether he lacks the straight-line speed to consistently beat NFL cornerbacks.
Rang gave his comparison to Matthews and it is all well and good. I’d have zero problems adding Earl Bennett to the Kansas City Chiefs. (Frankly, I’d have zero problems adding just about any Bears receiver to the Chiefs.) The Bennett comp is not the one I’d give Matthews, however.
Matthews reminds me most of Jordy Nelson. Both have similar size and athletic abilities, though Matthews timed better at the combine then Nelson did in 2008. There are great workers, excellent route runners, and have extremely reliable hands. Their size and athleticism allows them to compete against about any cornerback in the league, and their intelligence on the field allows them to be lined up anywhere.
The two are pure football players.
A lot has been made about Cooks and Beckham and how they fit in the offense. To me, no one fits the offense and the type of player the Chiefs seem to be looking for than Matthews. He fits so well that, if I were forced to pick a receiver in the first round, I’d pick him over Cooks and Beckham. Should the Chiefs trade into the second round, Matthews will be their pick – that’s my bold prediction for the NFL draft.