The Kansas City Chiefs are sitting atop the AFC standings with a 5-0 record, currently the only undefeated team in the conference.
The team is attempting to become the first in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls. A key factor in their victories in Super Bowls LVII and LVIII was their impressive 2022 draft class, which yielded several key starters and important depth pieces.
While it's challenging to replicate such success, a strong draft in 2024 could significantly boost their quest for a three-peat. In the first two nights of the draft, the Chiefs focused on securing Patrick Mahomes' future WR1 and his left tackle for the prime years of his career.
Although wide receiver and left tackle weren't the only positions addressed by Kansas City during the 2024 draft, they were arguably the most crucial, as both were major question marks heading into the offseason. With the Chiefs currently on their bye week, let's review and grade every rookie from their 2024 draft class, as well as a couple undrafted players, through the first five weeks of the season.
Note: These grades reflect performance in both the regular season and summer practices, while also considering draft position. A 'C' grade indicates the player has met expectations based on their draft slot and preseason projections, without significantly exceeding or falling short of them. A player will be an 'Incomplete' if they have not played enough snaps to warrant a grade.
Xavier Worthy, Wide Receiver (Round 1, Pick 28)
Let's begin with the most popular rookie in this class. It's no surprise that the Chiefs' first pick is the most talked-about, largely due to his NFL record 4.21-second 40-yard dash time.
Heading into training camp, expectations for Worthy were relatively modest. He was firmly behind Rashee Rice and Marquise "Hollywood" Brown on the depth chart, with Travis Kelce anchoring the tight end position.
Unfortunately, Brown was injured just minutes into the first preseason game, and Rice went down in Week 4. Both are expected to be out long-term, with Brown possibly returning in late December or early January, while Rice's return timeline remains uncertain.
Through five games, Worthy has recorded 12 catches for 179 yards and 2 touchdowns on 19 targets. He also has 42 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. According to Pro Football Focus ($), he's averaged 1.27 yards per route run in the passing game. For reference, Rashee Rice was at 2.62 through five weeks last year.
Don't be discouraged by these modest numbers. Xavier Worthy is just 21 years old, while Rice was 23 at this point last season. Given their skill sets, Rice is more of a volume receiver, while Worthy isn't. In Worthy's first year, it's about quality over quantity.
Although the production isn't overwhelming, it's not entirely his fault. As great as Patrick Mahomes is, he's failed to target a wide-open Worthy downfield on numerous occasions. Even though the two connected on an incredible deep ball touchdown in Week 4, Mahomes has left a lot of potential yards on the field for Worthy.
In the end, Worthy's rookie campaign has gone pretty much as expected. There have been occasional fireworks in the deep passing game with a few gadget plays mixed in. His role in the offense will likely increase as the season progresses. For comparison, Rashee Rice was targeted 4.6 times per game through five games last year, before that increased to 6.8 for the rest of the way and 8.6 after Week 11. Worthy's time will come.
In grading Worthy, context is key. He was the 5th wide receiver drafted, and ranks 8th among rookie receivers in catches, 6th in yards, and 8th in receiving yards per route run (minimum 10 targets). While these stats don't warrant an exceptional grade, Worthy has shown promise and contributed meaningfully. He's proven he belongs in the NFL and has displayed potential for stardom, even if he hasn't been the most productive rookie receiver.
Bye Week Grade: B+
Kingsley Suamataia, Offensive Tackle (Round 2, Pick 63)
There's no way to sugarcoat it: Kingsley Suamataia has struggled in his limited action this season. According to PFF ($), he's surrendered 2 sacks, 2 QB hits, and 6 total pressures in 68 pass-blocking snaps, along with three penalties. Almost all of this occurred during his only two starts in Weeks 1 and 2.
Due to his subpar performance, Andy Reid was forced to bench Suamataia in favor of Wanya Morris prior to Week 3. Although Morris hasn't been stellar either (1 sack and 8 total pressures across 131 pass-blocking snaps), per PFF ($), he's proven to be a more steady presence at left tackle than Suamataia.
Despite this disappointing start for the rookie, there's no reason to panic. Offensive tackle is an extremely challenging position for a rookie to dominate immediately, especially for a 21-year-old. Additionally, Suamataia was a late 2nd round pick and was considered a bit of a project.
While being benched is not encouraging, it's important to keep the big picture in mind. Kingsley Suamataia was drafted to be the long-term solution at left tackle (i.e., 2025 through 2035). A rough start to his rookie season is no reason to be discouraged. He still possesses the tools to become a high-level tackle in the NFL; he just needs time to develop.
Assessing Suamataia presents a complex picture. While growing pains were expected for this project tackle, his benching complicates the grading process. Long-term optimism remains, but his current value to the Chiefs falls short of justifying a higher grade. It's important to note that his struggle to be a day-one starter isn't entirely surprising given his developmental status.
Bye Week Grade: C
Jared Wiley, Tight End (Round 4, Pick 131)
Throughout the summer, few players, if any, on the Kansas City Chiefs saw their stock increase more than Jared Wiley. He impressed during both rookie camp and mini-camp, leading Chiefs fans to believe they had found Travis Kelce's successor. However, it turns out that all that hype may have been premature. Wiley had an underwhelming preseason, logging only 14 yards in 37 snaps and fumbling against the Jaguars (which he fortunately recovered).
In the regular season, Wiley's performance has been modest at best. He has recorded just 7 yards on one catch across 22 receiving snaps. As a blocker, he's been adequate but unremarkable. He was called for holding against the Saints, though the penalty was declined in favor of the same call against Creed Humphrey on the same play.
Through five weeks, Wiley has maintained his position as the TE3 (behind Travis Kelce and Noah Gray), but his role may be threatened by the recent re-acquisition of Jordy Fortson. Overall, Wiley's regular-season performance has yet to live up to the excitement generated during the offseason camps.
Jared Wiley was a 4th round pick, so sky-high expectations were never reasonable. He seems to have carved out a role as a blocking tight end. It's positive that he's at least seeing the field on a regular basis, but he hasn't contributed anything significant yet in the passing game, despite the opportunity, and hasn't seen a lick of special teams action. It's tough to give him a higher grade.
Bye Week Grade: C-
Jaden Hicks, Safety, Washington State (Round 4, Pick 133)
Immediately after the draft, many within Chiefs Kingdom believed that safety Jaden Hicks was a home run pick. However, while it's too early to make definitive judgments, his role on defense has been limited so far, logging only 13 snaps in five regular-season games.
It's important to note that the Chiefs are well-stocked at the safety position. Justin Reid, Bryan Cook, and Chamarri Conner are all firmly ahead of Hicks on the depth chart and have been since the beginning, so his limited defensive snaps are not surprising. Hicks had a couple of rough outings to start the preseason but finished strong in the finale, recording a pass breakup.
Where Hicks has made his mark is on special teams. He has been a standout performer for Dave Toub this season, logging 97 special teams snaps, the third-most on the team.
Barring an injury, we won't truly understand how the Chiefs view Jaden Hicks until a decision is made regarding Justin Reid's pending free agency. If Kansas City opts to let Reid walk, it could be seen as an encouraging sign for Hicks. Conversely, if they re-sign Reid, it might indicate that the team doesn't view Hicks as a long-term starter.
Bye Week Grade: Incomplete
Hunter Nourzad, Interior Offensive Line (Round 5, Pick 159)
Hunter Nourzad was drafted with the expectation that he wouldn't play a single non-garbage time snap on offense. As long as the Chiefs weren't ravaged by injuries in the interior of their offensive line, Nourzad was not expected to be protecting Patrick Mahomes. This has held true so far, as he's recorded zero offensive snaps in regular-season games.
However, Nourzad has found a role on special teams. He has been a part of the Chiefs' field goal unit, logging 25 snaps on field goal and extra point attempts in five games. It's worth noting that he performed well in the final two preseason games, allowing zero pressures across 40 pass-blocking snaps, which bodes well for his future development.
Nourzad was drafted to be a potential successor to Nick Allegretti, a flexible lineman who can play all three interior offensive line positions in a pinch. Although he's older than the typical rookie, turning 25 next month, Nourzad is still considered a player in need of development. The Chiefs seem to be taking a patient approach with him, allowing him to learn and grow behind the scenes while contributing to special teams.
Bye Week Grade: Incomplete
Kamal Hadden, Cornerback (Round 6, Pick 211)
After spending a sixth round pick on Kamal Hadden, the Chiefs cut him after the preseason and is now on Green Bay's practice squad. Kansas City missed on this pick, but he was a late Day 3 pick. It happens and isn't a big deal.
Bye Week Grade: D-
C.J. Hanson, Interior Offensive Line (Round 7, Pick 248)
C.J. Hanson made the final roster, which is great for a 7th-round pick, but has been inactive for every game this season. His preseason performance was subpar, especially in pass protection, suggesting he's not yet prepared for regular-season play. While Hanson may develop positively in the future, the Chiefs could face significant challenges if he's required to play meaningful snaps this season.
Bye Week Grade: Incomplete
Christian Roland-Wallace, Cornerback (Undrafted)
One of the more positive developments from training camp was Christian Roland-Wallace securing a spot on the roster. While his defensive contributions have been minimal (logging just 1 defensive snap against New Orleans), Roland-Wallace has proven to be a solid special teams contributor. He has recorded 70 special teams snaps across the first five games, demonstrating that Dave Toub trusts him.
Any immediate contribution from an undrafted free agent (UDFA) is a win for the team. If CRW can provide quality defensive snaps later in the year, it will prove to be an astute find by Brett Veach and his scouting team.
Bye Week Grade: B+
Carson Steele, Running Back (Undrafted)
Carson Steele's journey with the Kansas City Chiefs has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. The undrafted free agent running back defied odds by making the roster, initially slotting in at third on the depth chart behind Isiah Pacheco and Samaje Perine. Steele gained additional notoriety off the field, going viral for his unusual pet alligator, Crocky J, and for missing his sister's wedding to make his first NFL start in Week 3.
Despite being a compelling story, Steele has tested the team's trust with his on-field performance. He's fumbled three times and shown weaknesses in pass protection. While he's totaled 117 rushing yards over 33 carries this season, Steele lacks the speed and explosiveness typically required of a starting NFL running back. His future might lie in transitioning to a quality fullback role, but his ceiling appears limited.
Steele's 2024 role on the team could be in jeopardy with potential roster changes looming. If Clyde Edwards-Helaire is able to return to the field, coupled with Kareem Hunt's strong performances and Samaje Perine's reliability as a third-down back, Steele might find himself the odd man out. The potential return of Isiah Pacheco down the road could further complicate Steele's immediate future with the team.
Despite these challenges, the Chiefs appear to have uncovered a potential gem in Steele, even if he needs more time to develop as an overall player. His journey from undrafted free agent to contributing NFL player is noteworthy, regardless of how his role evolves moving forward.
This grade may seem harsh, but three fumbles, including two lost ones, have nearly cost the Chiefs multiple games this season. Without these fumbles, the grade would be considerably higher, but their occurrence can't be overlooked.
Bye Week Grade: C+