Wide Receivers – Mecole Hardman
Of all the position groups on this list, wide receiver may not actually be in any kind of trouble. The only reason this is on the list is because of the uncertainty surrounding the situation with Tyreek Hill. It’s tough to say what will ultimately happen, but it’s very possible that nothing does.
Let’s assume for the time being that nothing will change. I say this simply to create context around the argument I’m about to present. So, the primary receiving targets would be Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, Mecole Hardman, and Byron Pringle. Yes, there are other receivers on the offense but it’s probable these will be the five players who see the field the most.
Tyreek Hill is a fantastic receiver. He’s got generational speed and quickness that makes other great athletes look like mediocre ones. It’s amazing to watch. But in multiple playoff games, the opposing team has completely nullified his involvement in the offense. Think back to the all the Steelers’ and Patriots’ games we played in the playoffs the last few years. In almost every single one he was barely a factor, and it showed in how our offense performed.
Sammy Watkins is a great athlete, and he is a fantastic second receiver to have in your offense. He has rare ability to run after the catch. Reid has compared him to a running back, and this is a pretty accurate comparison. He’s a violent athlete and runner. Unfortunately, he’s also injury prone. He has missed considerable time since he came into the NFL and it’s likely he won’t ever play a full season. Considering he was a major reason the Chiefs scored 31 points in the second half of the AFC championship, this is something to consider.
After Hill and Watkins, there are complete unknowns. Can Demarcus Robinson handle the complexity of responsibilities that the team expected from Chris Conley? Can Mecole Hardman transition quickly, if at all, to the NFL ranks as a productive receiver? Is Byron Pringle really more than simply a fun story of a kid who played college ball locally? These are all significant uncertainties.
However, there is tremendous reason for optimism. Tyreek Hill is one of the best receivers in the league, barring any significant changes and assuming he stays healthy, we can expect him to have a great year. Sammy Watkins is injury prone, yes, but I expect the Chiefs are working to address this. Whether that’s by addressing how he trains in the offseason or how he maintains his body during the season, I expect them to figure this out. If both these players can play consistently, that is a dynamic duo.
Add to this the newest addition to the receiver corp, and player to watch, Mecole Hardman. Hardman is an absolute blazer. It’s reported that the Chiefs have been eyeing him for a long time and that they expect him to play significant snaps in week one. I’m betting opposing teams are coming to the frightful conclusion that their third cornerback may be covering a player with 4.33 speed, and I’m betting it’s keeping them up at night.
I’ll be honest, assuming nothing changes, I don’t think this group will be a weakness. Most teams would be extremely happy with two extremely dynamic receivers and a few question marks at their third receiver. I expect this group will exceed what it produced last year, which was a great season.
Conclusion:
There are a handful of Chiefs’ position groups that are projected to be thin going into the 2019 season. Veach has attempted to begin and complete a massive rebuild in one offseason, and has arguably done a pretty good job. But there are still some outstanding question marks.
The Chiefs had a fantastic 2018 campaign. It was the most exciting I have witnessed as a fan, and the arguably the most memorable in 49 years. There is no question the organization and fans are entering the 2019 season with extremely high hopes. After all, they’re second year quarterback just one the organization’s first NFL MVP award.
Even with the question marks, this year is Super Bowl or bust. I think the Chiefs have done enough and should be a favorite to hoist the Lombardi Trophy come February.