The Kansas City Chiefs are just days away from reporting to training camp, and there might not be a position group with more questions surrounding it than wide receiver. While a team can only succeed if it is solid or better at positions all over the field, the Chiefs are still built around Patrick Mahomes and the passing game. Right now, they simply don't have long-term answers to the question of who is going to be on the receiving end of Mahomes' passes going forward. One player who could still be part of that equation is Xavier Worthy.
Worthy was a first-round pick (28th overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft. He set the record for the fastest 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine, and Kansas City selected the speedster with hopes of giving Patrick Mahomes a dynamic weapon for years to come. Worthy had a promising, but not overly flashy, rookie season, posting 59 receptions for 638 yards and six touchdowns. Then, last season, he battled injuries on and off and saw his numbers drop to 42 receptions for 532 yards and one touchdown.
The entire 2025 season was a letdown for the Chiefs, so Worthy's year was just one of many disappointments. However, with Travis Kelce nearing the end of his storied NFL career and Rashee Rice's off-the-field issues making a long-term contract less likely, it would be really helpful if the Chiefs' former first-round pick at wide receiver could take the step from solid contributor to one of Mahomes' most reliable targets.
Why there might be reason to believe that Xavier Worthy will have his best season in 2026
The Chiefs are hoping that getting healthy and adding a new wide receivers coach will lead to a breakout season in 2026. The Chiefs were not happy with the development and results under former wide receivers coach Connor Embree. New wide receivers coach Chad O'Shea has a good reputation dating back to his long tenure with the New England Patriots. During that time, O'Shea oversaw the success of technically precise route runners like Wes Welker and Julian Edelman.
Worthy's lean frame and record-setting speed make him a different type of wideout than players like Welker and Edelman, but if O'Shea can help him develop his route running and reliability, it could really help both him and the Chiefs. Historically, Andy Reid's offense has featured three types of wideouts: low-volume field stretchers, gadget weapons, and veterans whom Reid trusts to run all the routes and be where they are supposed to be on any given play. The first two options are almost always just role players, and if Worthy wants to prove he is more than that, he has to show he can be trusted as a route runner.
Worthy's frame may not be built for the 100-plus receptions per season that players like Welker and Edelman put up in New England, but if he could be relied upon to consistently catch 70 to 80 passes per season with more big-play explosiveness than those Patriots possession receivers, it would be a massive boost to the Chiefs' offense. The Chiefs haven't had a wide receiver top 50 receptions in back-to-back seasons since Tyreek Hill left town.
Xavier Worthy's two main areas for improvement both revolve around reliability. He needs to prove that his slender frame can stay healthy enough to handle a bigger workload, and then he needs to prove his route running is consistent enough that Patrick Mahomes can go to him on a regular basis. If he can do both of those things, then the sky is the limit.
So, as reports from St. Joseph start to come out in the coming weeks, keep your eyes and ears open for news about how Worthy is doing. Does he look fully healthy? Has his route running taken a step forward? Does it look like Chad O'Shea is having a positive effect on his development? Is Patrick Mahomes targeting him more? Those are the questions that need to be answered and what Chiefs fans should be watching during camp and the preseason.
Quarterback to watch: Garrett Nussmeier
Running Back to watch: Emmett Johnson
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