Six affordable free agent wide receivers for the Kansas City Chiefs to consider
Martavis Bryant
Don’t get me wrong, Martavis Bryant would be a pretty big stretch. However, if he was available he’d be a great add. He was an electric receiver during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately, after suffering a PCL tear he was suspended indefinitely from his current team, the Oakland Raiders, due to violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He has since been released.
If he ends up being reinstated, he is an immensely talented receiver. In the right system, like the Chiefs’ offense, he could flourish. It might take him three to four games to get acclimated to Reid’s complicated system, but there’s no doubt, once acclimated he could be dynamic for the Chiefs.
In the event this was even in the realm of possibility, the Chiefs would be getting a major playmaker. Bryant is a fantastic athlete, who at 6’4 ran a 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds at the NFL Combine and posted a 39-inch standing vertical. Based on his physical build and speed, he could do a lot for the Chiefs from catching passes over the middle to stretching the field on the outside. This would be yet another versatile and vertical threat to create mismatches.
It’s also important to keep in mind he spent his best years playing third fiddle to both Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. Even so, throughout his career with the Steelers and most recently the Raiders he’s been a very productive player. He’s played in 44 games and amassed 2,183 yards and 17 touchdowns.
What’s more, he’s graded out consistently well on offense. Excluding 2018, the year he was injured and then suspended midway through the season, Pro Football Focus has graded Bryant as “Above Average” to “Good” on offense. Inject a big-bodied athlete who’s a reliable pass catcher into an offense with Mahomes at the helm and you can expect good things.
Obviously, this is a long shot pick. However, if Bryant were to somehow get reinstated by the league, the Chiefs would have to give him a serious look. The talent is there to do a lot of the things the team needs.