Could the Kansas City Chiefs young wideouts make Tyreek Hill expendable?

Tyreek Hill has been the talk of the Kansas City Chiefs offseason, but will the Chiefs re-sign him or could their young wideouts make him expendable?

The Kansas City Chiefs have the most exciting player in the entire NFL in young quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He’s the reigning MVP, on the cover of Madden and is pretty much the NFL’s new poster boy.

Despite that, most of the discussions amongst Chiefs fans this offseason have centered around star wideout Tyreek Hill. I don’t want this post to devolve into another debate about Hill’s “off field situation“, morality opinions, or the media’s roll in the situation. So if you came here for that, I’m sorry.

I’m also certainly not going to downplay just how talented Tyreek Hill is. He’s amazing. If you saw the headline and are here to tell me what a fool I am for even insinuating that Hill could be expendable, wait and hear me out first. Afterward, you are certainly welcome to tell me what a fool I am. It certainly won’t be the first time.

Let me start by saying that I feel like the emotions involved in this entire Hill “situation” have made it hard for people to step back and make a logical business decision regarding him. Those that were steadfastly defending him this entire offseason are naturally going to want to see him stay with the team long term. Those that have had serious questions about him since the Chiefs drafted him are likely ready to just be done with him, regardless of his status in this most recent “situation.”

I’m going to attempt to take those emotions out of the equation altogether. I recognize that Hill is both incredibly talented and a major asset to the team and that letting him go after this coming season would mean that the Chiefs (and their fan base) would be free of any future moral debates/judgements about Hill as well as likely bringing them a high comp pick as compensation. I just want you to take a second to consider if there is a possibility that letting him walk at the end of this season could be a smart business decision.

After trading away their first round pick to acquire Frank Clark, the Chiefs then traded up in the second round to draft wide receiver Mecole Hardman. Without turning this post into a scouting report on Hardman, let’s just say that he has a similar profile to Tyreek Hill. Nobody is insinuating that Hardman will be able to walk in and replicate what Hill has been able to do this year or ever. However, it is worth noting that the Chiefs used their first pick of this draft on a wideout with similar skills to Hill.

Were Hill to leave in free agency next offseason, the two biggest potential holes he would leave are that of a home run hitting deep threat at receiver and a dangerous return man on special teams. Hardman, while not Hill, does have the potential to fill both of those holes.

Hardman isn’t the only young wideout that could see themselves as a key contributor this coming season. Demarcus Robinson is entering his fourth season under head coach Andy Reid. The 24 year old has totaled 43 receptions and 4 touchdowns (all last season) over the past two years. Robinson has flashed some real ability at times and, given the opportunity, it’s possible he could step up and produce starting wideout numbers, especially in an Reid-led offense with Mahomes as his quarterback.

Next up, the wideout that has turned heads this offseason.