Rating the Kansas City Chiefs roster needs prior to free agency

Wide Receiver

Players currently under contract:
Tyreek Hill
Sammy Watkins
Mecole Hardman
Byron Pringle
Gehrig Dieter
Felton Davis
Jody Fortson

Need for a starter: 1
Need for depth: 7

So let’s just address the elephant in the room right off the bat. The ratings here will be greatly effected by whatever the Chiefs decide to do with Sammy Watkins. Watkins is currently under contract for next season so with the top three receiving group of Tyreek Hill, Watkins, and Mecole Hardman, KC doesn’t have any need of a starting wideout. However, if the Chiefs do decide to cut Watkins I would move that “1” all the way up to an “8”. I think the Chiefs could survive with Hill, Hardman, and Byron Pringle, but they’d be much better served by adding another proven player to that mix.

Regardless of wether or not Watkins stays, the Chiefs could still use another developmental receiver to add to the depth chart. This draft class is one of the deepest at wide receiver in a long time. The Chiefs would be wise to take advantage of that depth and could add a really good player in rounds 2-4 that normally might have gone much higher. If the Chiefs do cut Watkins and don’t sign a starting caliber wideout to take his place in free agency, it could be a sign that the plan to target a wideout early enough that they’ll plan on him contributing right out of the gate.

Next up, the tight end position.