The wide receiver spot is generally one that offers an exhilarating battle for the final roster spots. Kansas City is no doubt going through that again this season. Outside of the top three or four names, it feels like the Chiefs could have as many as five or six other legitimate wide receivers worth paying attention to. One of those names who has turned heads in training camp and the preseason is Jason Brownlee.
The former undrafted free agent was with the New York Jets for the last couple of years. Brownlee still impressed with his training camp runs there, but in this year's competition with the Chiefs, Brownlee has continued to progress at the right time.
He hauled in a beautiful back-shoulder fade for a touchdown in the first preseason game, and as Chiefs Team Reporter Matt McMullen mentioned, Brownlee has been stacking consistent, strong showings day after day in training camp.
Brownlee is making a serious case to open the year on the Chiefs' 53-man roster. If he does make it, Kansas City could be receiving a skill set that they have lacked among their wide receiver depth.
Brownlee's size gives Chiefs boost in specific situations
If Brownlee can carve out a spot on the roster, it is not expected that he will quickly garner a ton of snaps. There are a few specific situations where he stands as a mismatch for Patrick Mahomes, however. His size, length, and height are traits that Kansas City has not typically possessed at wide receiver in recent years. We saw just how effective that size was for his touchdown grab in the first preseason game.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 202 pounds, Brownlee can give Mahomes an advantage in contested situations. This helps play into the fact that the Chiefs are hoping to let it rip and be explosive, even on tight-window throws this year. Again, that may only lead to a handful of opportunities per game for Brownlee if he is on the team. However, that added size can boost the Chiefs’ offense in areas like the red zone, third down, and in longer downs and distances.
Brownlee could offer what fans were hoping for from past depth names
It is not an exact carbon copy, but the skill set of Brownlee is very similar to that of another former undrafted free agent, Justyn Ross. Injuries hindered much of Ross's chances with Kansas City after spending a few training camps with them. But when he did briefly see the field, fans were extra hyped to see what Ross could offer.
Jason Brownlee is built with a related play style to that of Ross. It will be fascinating to see how much he can progress in the final two preseason games. If his reps remain as productive and as clean, the Chiefs may have no choice but to keep him from possibly being available to other teams. He is not a player who will potentially be a game wrecker for the offense all year long, but as a depth option worth tapping into, Brownlee gives Kansas City what they have been missing with Mahomes in that role.