Three Questions: Kansas City Chiefs Wide Receivers
By Ben Nielsen
Sep 19, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver A.J. Jenkins (15) during the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Chiefs defeated the Eagles 26-16. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Who wins the slot receiver job(s)?
Dexter McCluster is now a receiver for the Tennessee Titans which means the role of inside receiver is now available to anyone who may want it. John Dorsey has taken the liberty of stacking up a bunch of receivers who could find a way to fill the role.
A.J. Jenkins is the first man up to take the job. A pure wide receiver, Jenkins has the speed to be effective in some of McCluster’s more creative roles and has the instincts at the position McCluster took years to figure out.
The positive view of Jenkins, who was a former first round pick, is he’s never really had a shot to prove himself at the NFL level. San Francisco allowed him to appear in only four games his rookie season before trading him for Jonathan Baldwin. The late arrival essentially screwed his chances of seeing much playing time in Kansas City in 2013.
Jenkins doesn’t have to be a stud, he just has to fill a mid-level role. The pressure is on Bowe and Jamaal Charles to be the playmakers on offense. If Jenkins can pair with Donnie Avery, Anthony Fasano, and Travis Kelce as secondary options for Alex Smith then the Chiefs should have enough diversity in the passing game to have a good offense.
Weston Dressler, De’Anthony Thomas, and Junior Hemingway may also see some chances to win the slot role, but the Chiefs would be best served if Jenkins won the job outright.