The Kansas City Chiefs face questions on their wide receiver depth chart. Stop if you have heard that before. In reality, that has been a theme at some point in that position battle for a few years running.
One name looking to take advantage of an opportunity in the wide receiver battle? Andrew Armstrong is a player with size that Kansas City fans must pay attention to. Measuring in at roughly 6'4" and over 200 pounds, Armstrong boasts the physical traits that the Chiefs have been lacking at wide receiver.
The mix of questions surrounding the wide receiver depth chart is one thing. But in recent history, you do not have to look back very far to find a pass catcher who worked his way up in the Chiefs' system. Combine those notes with how Armstrong may fit in the K.C. offense, and it is reasonable to see why this wide receiver may make the team.
A weaker top 3 wide receiver group and countless questions
You can probably lock in three names at the top of the wide receiver depth chart. Kansas City's trio of Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton are penciled in as the starters. Thornton returned on a one-year deal this past offseason. He deserves more consistent playing time after some early flashes in 2025.
After that, it is a herd of unknowns. Rookie Cyrus Allen made early waves in training camp before getting banged up. Can he truly continue his immediate connection with Patrick Mahomes as an incoming fifth-round pick?
Jalen Royals was drafted one round earlier in 2025. He was essentially unused throughout his rookie year, despite a meaningless set of games for the Chiefs near the end of last season. Will Allen not be utilized like Royals was last year? Or will Royals even have enough wiggle room to secure his chances with Kansas City?
Nikko Remigio is the other well-known name for Chiefs fans. Of course, he has made his name more as a returner than as a pass catcher. Others like Jeff Caldwell, Jimmy Holiday, Omari Evans, and Jason Brownlee are left competing with Armstrong for the final spots. As you can see, the competition is not as stiff as what wide receivers are facing across other NFL teams.
Armstrong's notable path to Chiefs' training camp
For those who do not remember, Thornton joined the Chiefs late in the 2024 season. He signed to the practice squad a few days after being let go by the New England Patriots. Following a couple of months on Kansas City's practice squad, Thornton signed a reserve/future deal with the Chiefs.
That led to Thornton getting a chance at a full training camp with K.C. last year. He stacked numerous positive days and good results together. It led to him making the 53-man roster. The Chiefs did not have the number of wins they were hoping for in 2025. But if not for Thornton's incredible grabs early in the campaign, the overall record perhaps turns out even bleaker for Kansas City by the end of last season.
Armstrong took the exact same route to Kansas City and this year's training camp. An undrafted player in 2025, he signed with the Miami Dolphins after the draft. Armstrong then spent part of last season on the Detroit Lions' practice squad.
Right after the end of last regular season, the Chiefs signed him to a reserve/future contract. As a result, Kansas City clearly believes it can work meaningful competition from Armstrong into training camp. They had to have been thinking of him competing for a spot on their depth chart if they signed him so quickly in the offseason.
Where Armstrong can stand out in Chiefs' training camp
Armstrong's size is where he becomes truly intriguing in the Chiefs' wide receiver battle. Looking back at his time in college football at Arkansas, a few notable traits jumped out. He is a pass catcher who can run tight, succinct routes in the short to intermediate areas. He is physically imposing both on the perimeter and when aligned closer to the box. That can allow him ample opportunities to defeat man coverage or press coverage in close quarters.
And at his size, Armstrong is not a complete slouch after the catch. He was able to pull away from defenders in tight spaces with the Razorbacks. That adequate explosion is backed up by favorable testing numbers from his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine.
How often have defenses clamped down on the Chiefs' wide receivers recently with man coverage? It is too easy to point out. Armstrong can offer the size and physicality that Kansas City's offense has lacked against those defensive looks. In addition, if the Chiefs do come out under center more often in 2026, there are more creative ways in which Armstrong can be utilized compared to the players he is battling against in training camp.
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