KC Chiefs training camp: Meet the wide receivers competing in 2022
By Grant Tuttle
#1 Corey Coleman
College: Baylor
Years Pro: 5 (28 years old)
Chance of Making the Roster: On the Bubble
One of the wackier signings that Brett Veach made this offseason came out of nowhere when they signed Corey Coleman. Coleman, by all accounts, was an incredible college player. When he was drafted with the 15th overall pick in 2016 by the Cleveland Browns, Coleman was believed to have a very bright future. After two years in Cleveland and one in New York with the Giants, Coleman never carved out a role on another roster. In 2022, Brett Veach is willing to take a flyer on the former Baylor star.
Will Coleman turn it around and earn a roster spot? Maybe. At 28, it appears that his chances may be slimmer than that of an undrafted free agent that can produce similar success. Coleman, however, will have a chance to compete on a roster for a team that has had palpable success for the first time in his career. If there was ever an opportunity for success, this would be the one.
#14 Cornell Powell
College: Clemson
Years Pro: 1 (24 years old)
Chance of Making the Roster: On the Bubble
In 2021, Powell was drafted in the 5th round. Fans expected that he would have the upper hand to make the roster. Unfortunately, the hype never materialized. The hype that was projected on Powell was never fair, but the truth is that the roster’s wide receiver group last season as a whole, was less talented than it is this season. Powell likely faces an uphill battle to make the roster for the Chiefs for the 2022-2023 year.
Powell is in a real battle for not only his job in Kansas City but also his NFL career. If Powell is unable to make a serious impression on the coaching staff and his teammates, he might just be out the door or hoping for a practice squad role.
#8 Justyn Ross
College: Clemson
Years Pro: Rookie
Chance of Making the Roster: On the Bubble
No one likes to blow expectations out of proportion, right? While many Chiefs fans are hopeful that Justyn Ross will be the second coming of Otis Taylor or Tyreek Hill, the chances of that production coming from a first-year undrafted free agent are slim. With that in mind, there are reasons to be optimistic about Justyn Ross. There has been serious hype around his ability in minicamp. This was evidenced by a video that surfaced from OTAs showing Ross making a one-handed grab from Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes and star teammate Travis Kelce tweeted out support for Ross after his strong showing during OTAs.
While we should all pump the breaks a little, Ross offers a unique skill set and athleticism. At 6’4 and 205 pounds, Ross could develop into a serious threat. There is a real concern regarding his ability to stay healthy, which is the sole reason he went undrafted in the first place. With that in mind, the Chiefs will likely give him every chance available to make the opening roster.