Tyreek Hill earning rave reviews as Chiefs top wide receiver

Matt Miller’s latest Scouting Notebook at Bleacher Reports includes positive takes on Tyreek Hill as the Chiefs top wideout.

The climb from fifth round draft pick to number one wide receiver apparently takes a single NFL season—if you’re Tyreek Hill, at least. The Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver was a fifth round find last year for former general manager John Dorsey, an elite vertical threat with a troubling legal history. After doing their homework, the Chiefs grabbed the small school product and the dividends were immediate.

During his freshman season, so to speak, in the NFL, Tyreek Hill set the league on fire. Not only is the fastest player in the league right now (sorry John Ross, but you’re just a rookie), recording the two single fastest moments on the field in 2016, but he proved to be an excellent receiver—whether lined up as a wideout or being used out of the backfield. The end result was 12 touchdowns through the air, on the ground and via returns.

Now the Chiefs are rolling with a completely young group of wide receivers after releasing veteran Jeremy Maclin, each of the remaining are 25-or-younger. Matt Miller’s latest Scouting Notebook at Bleacher Report states that he’s hearing good things about Hill’s emergence as a top-flight wideout, capable of taking on Maclin’s former role atop the depth chart.

"The Chiefs are relying upon Tyreek Hill to be their No. 1 receiver after releasing Jeremy Maclin in June, and by all accounts I’ve heard coming out of training camp, he looks like one. Hill has the speed, jacked physique and hands to lead the team in receptions."

Many reports from training camp have been about the strong chemistry from Alex Smith to Tyreek Hill, and yet the future should also only enhance Hill’s game. When Patrick Mahomes, who has a cannon for an arm, eventually takes over, the Chiefs will likely see another extension of Hill’s talents take over with an even greater ability to hurt defenses over the top.

Hill had 6 touchdown catches last year as a receiver among his 61 receptions, good for 593 receiving yards.