Breaking down the Kansas City Chiefs competition at kick returner

The Kansas City Chiefs have had a surplus of speedy off-season acquisitions, but how will the competition at KR shake up?

The Kansas City Chiefs have several options before them at kick returner.

With Tyreek Hill taking a more profound role as the club’s No. 1 wideout last season, the Chiefs have had to seek out more options for a return specialist. As it sits right now, the Chiefs have four primary return specialists they have been working out throughout the preseason. We will take an in-depth look at each candidate and see how those stats and comparisons can translate to the field.

In the 2017 season, former Chiefs running back Akeem Hunt was the primary kickoff return man, fielding 25 returns for 611 yards. The only other kickoff returner with triple-digit yards was WR De’Anthony Thomas, who had been consistently one of the top returners behind the aforementioned Akeem Hunt and Tyreek Hill. This year, the Chiefs have potential primary returners in rookie cornerback Tremon Smith, running back Kerwynn Williams, wide receiver Gehrig Dieter and wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas.

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I’ll be the first to admit: I’m a De’Anthony Thomas fan. I liked him coming out of Oregon as a fourth round draft pick and making the transition from a collegiate running back to a wide receiver. While he hasn’t turned heads as a wide receiver, I’ve been impressed with his speed and return abilities. Thomas broke his leg last January and hasn’t been able to play this preseason until this weekend against the Bears, Thomas once again took a back seat as a return man, however he was able to return one kick for 36 yards, and two punts for 33 yards.

While this doesn’t look impressive on paper, Thomas did show some nice little finesse moves for a couple decent-sized returns. Will it be enough to save him a spot on the Chiefs’ final 53? I’m not quite convinced. I personally think there’s cheaper, more consistent options ahead of him. I’ll delve further into the other candidates to weigh our options.

Rookie cornerback Tremon Smith has looked rather impactful as a return man throughout the preseason, fielding 8 kicks for a total of 197 yards. This leads all other returners heading into week 4 of the preseason. That’s an average of 24.6 yards per return, which is an impressive feat as well, considering the leading kickoff returner for the NFL averaged 27.4 yards per kickoff return. Throughout this offseason, Smith has been on my watch list as a cornerback and as a kickoff returner. He’s also the second fastest player on the team behind Tyreek Hil l, so that helps his case tremendously. As it stands, Smith eclipses De’Anthony Thomas.

Let’s take a look at another recent acquisition: running back Kerwynn Williams. Williams signed with the Chiefs in April, becoming one of many running backs on the Chiefs’ offseason roster. As a member of the Arizona Cardinals, Williams was used as the primary kickoff and punt returner. He fielded 16 returns for a total of 326 yards. Throughout the off-season, he’s returned just two kicks for 48 yards, averaging 24 yards per return. He didn’t see any action in the Chiefs’ week 3 preseason game, as it seemed the Chiefs wanted to venture into other options and see who can make an impact as a return man.

My final option as a return specialist is second year wide receiver Gehrig Dieter. Dieter hasn’t seen much action as a return man, and I definitely don’t have him as the #1 KR or even #2 KR. He might not even make the final 53, but he definitely has position to be in the conversation. On the Chiefs’ third unofficial depth chart of the offseason, Dieter is listed as the #4 kick return specialist behind Thomas, Smith and Williams. Unfortunately, though, I don’t see much of an opportunity here for Dieter.

Weighing all four potential candidates, it’s time to decide who I feel should get the nod as the Chiefs’ primary kick returner. Williams hasn’t given us much to work with this offseason, but in the same regard, I don’t feel that Thomas is worth his contract. Last season, Thomas had several bad looks as a returner, but the Chiefs have kept him around for his speed and ball carrier skills. Williams still has great speed and acceleration as a fifth year running back, but again I don’t know if he has a spot on this roster. After a thorough comparison of Thomas and Williams, I’m confident that Thomas will stay as the Chiefs’ #2 kick returner.

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Three candidates remaining,. It came down between Kerwynn Williams and Tremon Smith. Smith really propelled himself forward in the Chiefs’ third preseason game, on my watch list after fielding 3 kicks for 75 yards. That’s an average of 25 yards per return. Although there’s the possibility of Smith starting in the Chiefs’ secondary, I believe he may also find success on the Chiefs’ special teams as the primary kick returner. I don’t think Williams finds a home with the Kansas City Chiefs, as a running back nor as a return man.

In the end, I believe the Chiefs will give Tremon Smith the opportunity as the #1 return specialist, with Thomas reprising his position as the #2 KR.

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