Chiefs rumors: Who will be Kansas City’s surprise cuts in 2017?

Albert Wilson, wide receiver

At the ripe old age of 25, Albert Wilson is the Chiefs’ oldest wide receiver. It would certainly be a surprise to see the Chiefs release their two most veteran wideouts in the same offseason, but even with such a weak depth chart at WR, the Chiefs could do it. In fact, they probably should.

Wilson picked up less than 300 yards receiving last year (good for sixth-best on the team), and was hardly a weapon to be feared throughout the year. Wilson can be reasonably considered as the ninth-best pass-catching threat on the roster behind Tyreek Hill, Chris Conley, Demarcus Robinson, Jehu Chesson, De’Anthony Thomas, Travis Kelce, Demetrius Harris and Gavin Escobar—not to mention the fact that the Chiefs will likely carry three running backs and a fullback into 2017. Even if you’re bullish on Wilson, at least four running backs, three tight ends and two wide receivers will be making the team before him. The Wilson/Robinson/Chesson/Thomas quagmire is where you have to start looking to other facets of the game for tiebreakers.

Most Chiefs fans probably consider Wilson to be a sort of special teams ace, but last year, Wilson recorded four tackles on special teams, and received one kickoff and no punts. Demarcus Robinson recorded four tackles, De’Anthony Thomas grabbed three, and DAT returned more kickoffs than any other Chief last season. Add now-RB3 Charcandrick West to the special teams unit and Kansas City has plenty of athleticism to keep Dave Toub happy.

Still not convinced? Let’s do one last check that must be made of any “surprise cut” analysis: is it practical? According to Over the Cap, the Chiefs could release Albert Wilson and save $1.8 million against the cap and carry absolutely no dead cap money from the move. That’s the nail in the coffin for me. The Chiefs should (and just might) continue to forsake their most veteran wide receivers. [Joshua Brisco]