NFL Draft: Early options for the Kansas City Chiefs

(WR) Corey Coleman

Not everyone is sold, but I believe the free agent acquisition of Rod Streater helped shore up the receiving corps. He’s a perfect fit for Andy Reid’s west coast offense and I’m confident with a year off, to recover from his 2014 foot injury, that he’ll be a front runner for the No. 2 receiver spot.

That said, I still think the Chiefs should stack the deck at wideout. It’s tough to say what the team will eventually get out of Chris Conley, a receiver prospect I was high on from just a year ago, and the formerly undrafted Albert Wilson.

Coleman has a skill set that makes him an intriguing option as an addition to Reid’s offense. Perhaps his biggest asset is his ability to quickly separate with explosive feet. He’s a bit like Kansas City’s own Jeremy Maclin in that he commands the respect of the defender covering him, and as such, will be afforded cushion at the line of scrimmage.

Defensive backs will often concede a few yards to avoid a nifty receiver running by them and exposing them down the field. It’s often been said that a vertical threat is of little value to quarterback Alex Smith, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Coleman’s ability to create space will be beneficial to the Chiefs all over the field. Look no further than his 2015 game tape. He gave the Texas Tech Red Raiders fits on corner routes, slants, and wide receiver screens. Those three routes are staples of Kansas City’s offense and with Smith’s above-average ball placement, Coleman can provide another option who can create chunk plays in the WCO system.

He’ll have to shore up concentration issues and drops if he plans to succeed at the next level. Coleman will also need coaching to help him avoid being pinned against the sideline on vertical routes. If I’m being honest, I don’t expect him to contribute right away. He’ll require some refining in the NFL, but as far as pure talent goes, he’s one of the most physically-gifted receivers at the top of this draft class.

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