Chiefs roster evaluation: Heavy investments at wide receiver work out
By Scott Loring
2019 was a challenging year for the Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver corps. But the group proved they were up for the task.
A lot could have gone wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver group in 2019. The Chiefs were in good position with Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins set to return as starters. After losing third option Chris Conley in free agency, the plan was to allow Demarcus Robinson to step up into Conley’s vacancy. Then, just hours before the first night of the NFL Draft, the forecast turned from cruise control into horror, as the superstar Hill’s status was in flux after news of a possible domestic issue was brought to light.
No one knows for certain how that plot twist might have affected the team’s decisions, but the next day in Round 2, general manager Brett Veach pulled the trigger on a trade to move up five spots and select speedy Georgia WR Mecole Hardman.
Kansas City was suddenly thrust into a situation in which they could potentially have to replace their All Pro receiver with Hardman, a raw 21-year-old waterbug. While the former Bulldog was loaded with tools to become a playmaking star in a Chiefs uniform, the timeline was concerning. Especially with the team in win-now mode after coming up just short in the AFC Championship Game.
In the months after the Hill saga unfolded, new information came to light, and long story short, Hill was cleared to return. Suddenly the Chiefs were armed with Hill and Hardman to go along with Watkins and Robinson. By the way, it wouldn’t hurt to have this other guy freeing up space for them, a pretty good tight end by the name of Travis Kelce. (We’ll talk about him tomorrow).
After missing several games with injuries in 2018, Watkins had been a disappointment. As the summer days carried on, the expectation for the 26-year-old Watkins was that he would produce when healthy, but of course that came with the caveat of only being expected to be healthy for 10-12 games.
A few other names were being tossed around as potential breakout candidates in 2019:
Byron Pringle developed quite a fan following as a former Kansas State Wildcat. The 6’1” 203-lb. Pringle had missed all of 2018 with an injury, but fans were eager to see how he could fit into the group, as both a receiver and as a kick returner.
Marcus Kemp and Gehrig Dieter were two other familiar names with hopes of making the Chiefs’ roster in a reserve role. Each had made small contributions in 2018 and had their sights set on making the next step in their promising young careers.
A few undrafted rookies also were earning some chatter as dark horses to make the roster: Cody Thompson, Felton Davis, Jamal Custis, and a little while later in camp, a 6’6” 230-lb. behemoth named Joe Fortson. The Chiefs clearly had a full quiver of pass-catchers, and as the team hit the road for training camp,