The Kansas City Chiefs that need to step up in 2016

3. Chris Conley – Wide Receiver

No player has the potential to upgrade the offense more with their development than second year wideout Chris Conley. The Chiefs have had a need for a solid number two wide receiver since…..well to be honest I’m tired right now and I don’t think I have it in me to figure out what was the last year the Chiefs had a good number two receiver, but that kind of proves my point. Now, a lot of people might have Conley at the top of this list and I understand that. However, given the fact that KC runs the ball consistently, has a true number one receiver in Jeremy Maclin, a pass catching tight end in Travis Kelce, and a pass catching back in Jamaal Charles, I don’t see the number two wide receiver spot as a huge need. That having been said, if Conley were to take a big step in his development it would add a dimension to the offense that they don’t currently have.

Jeremy Maclin is a great receiver. He has good speed and can certainly go down field at times, but he’s more of a prototypical west coast offense receiver that is going to rack up catches and yards on short and intermediate routes. Conley, on the other hand, has the potential to be a dynamic weapon down the field. He has great size (6-foot-2 and 213 pounds at the combine last year), big soft hands, blazing speed (4.35 forty at the combine), and freakish leaping ability (45 inch vertical leap at the combine). If Conley can become a good route runner and gain Alex Smith’s trust he can be the true deep threat that the KC offense needs to open up the underneath for short passes and keep the safeties honest so the running backs can get a few extra yards as well.

The Chiefs have plenty of other options at receiver including Albert Wilson, Rod Streater, Mike Williams, DeAnthony Thomas, and rookies Demarcus Robinson and Tyreek Hill. I would argue that none of those players have the upside of Chris Conley. Therefore it should be Conley that KC fans are hoping takes a big step forward in 2016.

Next up, the key to an improved offensive line.

Next: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif