KC Concepcion could be everything Chiefs fans wanted Hollywood Brown to be

For two years now, Kansas City Chiefs fans have been waiting for the impact of Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, and Rashee Rice on the field together. Once it finally happened, the impact never really matched the hype. The idea was to take the top off the defense with the speed of Worthy and Brown so Rice and Kelce could feast underneath. That never really happened. Why is that?

Though he statistically had a decent season, Hollywood Brown isn’t the same explosive downfield threat he used to be. Xavier Worthy fought injury throughout the season and also appears to still struggle with ball tracking. Defenses weren’t afraid of them deep, and it hurt Rice and Kelce (and the offense as a whole). So was the problem the plan or the players? While the answer is likely both, and several factors are at play, one fact remains the same: the Chiefs have a type at wide receiver, and that type happens to look a lot like KC Concepcion.

If the Chiefs want to continue to add speed and vertical stretch to their offense, KC Concepcion could be the perfect fit for them in the future.

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NFL Draft Profile: Kevin "KC" Concepcion, Wide Receiver, Texas A&M

Age: 21 (on draft night)

Height: 5-11 (Listed)

Weight: 190 LBS. (Listed)

Tape Exposure: Notre Dame (2025), LSU (2025), and Stanford (2024)

Shades of: Zay Flowers or Khalil Shakir

KC Concepcion's background

Kevin “KC” Concepcion grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, and attended Julius L. Chambers High School in Charlotte. Ranked as a three-star recruit by 247Sports, he committed to North Carolina State in 2022. As a freshman, he was a true hybrid player, taking 41 rush attempts in addition to 71 receptions. He lined up in the backfield and as a Wildcat QB and logged over 1,100 yards from scrimmage. In his sophomore year, he transitioned more into a wide receiver role with gadget-like tendencies.

In 2024, Concepcion entered the transfer portal and transferred to Texas A&M. 2025 was a major step forward in his development as a true wide receiver. He recorded 61 receptions for 919 yards and nine touchdowns. He showed he could be a consistent threat both as a wide receiver and as one of the nation’s best punt returners, averaging over 18 yards per return with two return touchdowns as well.

What makes KC Concepcion special?

Game Changing Speed

It’s obvious on film, but it needs to be stated: Concepcion might be the fastest player in the 2026 draft class. Jeremiyah Love might be the only player who pushes him in the 40-yard dash at the combine, and that’s because of Love’s experience as a state champion sprinter. Concepcion is more than just fast, though; he’s quick. His suddenness and acceleration are plus traits as well. His ability to get to top speed feels different than simple track speed.

Ball Skills

As Chiefs fans might already know, just being fast isn’t everything when it comes to being a downfield receiver. Concepcion displays plus ball skills in tracking the ball in the air and adjusting his body to it. He is a strong-handed catcher of the football and, despite his smaller frame, still ranks in the 78th percentile of contested catch rate.

Nuance

What makes Concepcion a Round 1-caliber talent isn’t his game-changing speed. Instead, it’s his refinement as a route runner. He has a diverse release package that helps him get separation against both man and zone coverage. He ranks in the 96th percentile of separation score via PFF. He has a natural feel for zones and finds soft spots well, and his short-area quickness makes him especially effective against man coverage.

Why KC Concepcion might be more of the same for the Chiefs

Drops

With 19 drops over three seasons and a career 9.3% drop rate, this is an issue that pops up from time to time. When you look at his profile as a transition from athlete to true receiver, questions about his hands make sense. Is he just an athlete, or is he a true receiver?

Versatility

With his limited frame, is he limited as a slot-predominant pass catcher at the next level? He played two-thirds of his snaps out wide in college, but that might not translate at the next level—especially given his limitations as a run blocker. He can do a lot for an offense in terms of motion, sweeps, and run after the catch, but lining him up on the line of scrimmage against Patrick Surtain or Derek Stingley is a major question mark.

Frame

With limited height, weight, and wingspan, the question remains whether he can win over the middle of the field. He’s more dense than Mecole Hardman or Xavier Worthy, but is he dense enough to win against linebackers over the middle of the field? Questions still remain about how his frame will hold up over an NFL season.

Why KC Concepcion might make sense for the Chiefs

There’s a chance that everything the Chiefs wanted from Hollywood Brown is actually reached through a healthy Xavier Worthy and Concepcion. The offense still has a major issue pushing the ball downfield, and Concepcion’s issues at the catch point and with ball tracking were far less pronounced than Worthy’s in college.

With nearly 30 pounds more size, he brings more after the catch while still possessing game-changing speed. Like it or not, the Chiefs absolutely have a type at receiver—and he matches it exactly. Chiefs fans can sit there and hope for a big-bodied ball winner, but when has that ever worked in the Chiefs’ offense?

KC Concepcion is an elite speed and YAC threat who changes defenses with his long speed and short-area quickness. He’s a savvy route runner who understands zones and is surprisingly strong at the catch point despite his size. His limitations mainly lie in his frame and refinement as a true wide receiver.

Round Grade: Green Chip (2nd Round Pick)