Could the Kansas City Chiefs have trio of 1,000-yard receivers?

Could the Chiefs offense really produce three different receivers with 1,000 yards apiece?

At this point, you can count on two pass catchers making the cut.

The Kansas City Chiefs have the NFL’s most dynamic offense, and the unit should be even more dangerous in 2020 with another year of championship experience and chemistry under their collective belts. They also have added a first-round running back in former LSU product Clyde Edwards-Helaire. But will that be enough to produce three receivers with 1,000 yards apiece?

On Tuesday, Dallas Cowboys receiver Amari Cooper said that his expectation was for his team to reach that very stat line.

While the Cowboys will be chasing the same goal, it could be the Chiefs who prove capable of actually seeing it through.

Per that chart from NFL reporter Michael Gehlken, twelve years have passed since any trio of pass catchers have caught 1,000 yards all on the same team. It’s only happened twice since the turn of the millennium. The Indianapolis Colts had one trio with Peyton Manning at the helm, while the Arizona Cardinals enjoyed Kurt Warner‘s arm at quarterback.

What’s clear is that the offenses that are able to air it out enough to push three pass catchers over the 1,000 yard mark in a season have elite quarterbacks in place. The Chiefs check that box with Patrick Mahomes, the best quarterback in the league. It’s also true that the skill position players are very talented even outside of Mahomes’ influence.

Two players seem obvious targets to eclipse that total, barring any health concerns. Tyreek Hill has turned the corner from dynamic returner to elite wide receiver, and he’s made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons. Travis Kelce is setting records for productivity at tight end and is a shoo-in for another 1,000-yard season in 2020—which would be his fifth consecutive year doing so.

From there, the Chiefs have candidates who are capable even if none of them are obvious. Sammy Watkins has broken that mark before as a rookie, the same year he was taken in the top ten of the NFL Draft. Since then, injuries have hampered his production but he remains an elite 1A target for K.C.’s offense.

Mecole Hardman is a deep threat with top-end speed who led the team with a 20.7 yards/catch average as a rookie in 2019. The former second round pick should look even better after a year in the league. If the Chiefs can feed him enough targets, he could surprise with 1,000 or more.

It’s also possible that Edwards-Helaire surprises everyone as a pass catching back who makes the most of his reps. Chiefs backs were targeted approximately 110 times in 2019. With Damien Williams opting out this year, that leaves plenty for Edwards-Helaire, the best pass-catching back in this entire draft class.

Whether it’s Watkins or Hardman or Edwards-Helaire, the reality is that the Chiefs have plenty of pass catchers capable of besting that 1,000 yard mark even with Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill also around. Targets are limited but there are enough to go around if players are efficient and maximize their gains when given chances. NFL history shows it’s rare for a third 1,000-yard receiver to emerge, but the Chiefs have the talent to do it.