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KC Chiefs mock draft roundup: Will Patrick Mahomes get a new target?

By Matt Conner

ATHENS, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 05: Jalin Hyatt #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers warms up prior to playing the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on November 05, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 05: Jalin Hyatt #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers warms up prior to playing the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on November 05, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 26: Jalin Hyatt #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to the crowd in the first quarter against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 26: Jalin Hyatt #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to the crowd in the first quarter against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images) /

Jalin Hyatt – Tennessee

If you think it’s odd that two draft analysts would go for the same wide receiver so early in the draft process, especially when there are so many that are likely to be available in that very window where the Chiefs will pick in the first round, you might be right. But there’s already a lot of smoke around Jalin Hyatt.

Both Josh Edwards of CBS Sports and Bucky Brooks of the NFL’s official site are going with Hyatt to the Chiefs at No. 31 overall in their latest mock drafts. Perhaps they’ve tapped into the fact that Hyatt and the Chiefs have already spent some time together and that it’s a match that makes sense for all parties involved.

Before we get into things, however, let’s look at what Edwards said about the pick in the first place:

"Jalin Hyatt has track speed to stretch defenses and open up the field for the likes of Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore and Travis Kelce. The addition would theoretically allow the team to move on from Marquez Valdes-Scantling and save $7 million toward the salary cap in the process."

There’s quite a bit to unpack here, but we don’t want to move past Hyatt’s resume too quickly. The first-team All-American was this year’s Biletnikoff winner as the top wideout in the country, so the Chiefs would be importing a pro-ready receiver who is already getting the best of some elite competition after putting up 1,267 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns for the Volunteers.

Let’s type this in its own paragraph: Hyatt had five scores against Alabama in a single week.

There’s so much to like about Hyatt from his production last year to his deep speed and his tracking to his courage. He’s even a solid blocker, for that matter. The only downside is that he’s so slight at 176 lbs. and some scouts might wonder about his build and durability. That said, he’s a mismatch waiting to happen, and for someone like Andy Reid, it’s almost unfair thinking about the marriage.

The only thing we’d say against the pick is just the part of the rationale that believes Marquez Valdes-Scantling would hit the road if the pick is made. Yes, MVS’s contract is more like a series of team options for each year, but there’s still some dead cap there, and Valdes-Scantling was coming on strong in the postseason.

It’s also important to note that having WRs with redundant skill sets for Reid gives him even more ability to mask what someone might do when on the field, and MVS’s presence would allow Hyatt to grow as a first-year player instead of diving into the deep end (e.g. the Chiefs’ approach with Skyy Moore). Hyatt could really be an incredible component for this offense for years to come if that’s the choice made.

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