The ultimate wide receiver tiers for the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2024 draft
Tier 4: The Wide Receivers the Chiefs Should Target at the End of Round Two
While I have the players in tier 3 ahead of these players because of their upside, this tier is made up of guys that I like more as players even if I acknowledge they don't have the same ceiling. I think these four will be rock-solid NFL players that don't come with the same risks and can win at multiple levels of the field.
11. Javon Baker - Central Florida - 6'1" - 202 pounds
Most wide receiver rankings have Javon Baker in the 15-20 range and I just don't get it. The guy just gets open and makes plays all over the field. He isn't a burner, but he has enough speed, ball-tracking skills, and physicality at the catch point to end last season with the second-highest average depth of target of the 30 prospects on this list. He's not just a deep threat though, he has the route running chops to create separation and while he had a few concentration drops, he's a consistent hands catcher that makes amazing snags away from the body. I would take him at 64 in a heartbeat.
12. Ricky Pearsall - Florida - 6'1" - 191 pounds
I'm torn on Ricky Pearsall. He has great hands and route running and I have zero doubt that he'll have a successful NFL career. My question is if that will be as an outside receiver or in the slot. Pearsall has enough size and his testing numbers point to him having the speed necessary to win outside, but on tape, I didn't feel like that speed always showed up. Maybe that was the Florida offense. Regardless, I think he would thrive in KC, and giving Patrick Mahomes the security of a guy with his hands and route running in the second round would be a no-brainer.
13. Jalen McMillan - Washington - 6'1" - 197 pounds
I think Jalen McMillan is another underrated prospect in this loaded class. People forget that he and Rome Odunze were neck and neck in the race to be Washington's top wide receiver and the better NFL prospect after the 2022 season. Then in 2023, Odunze took a big step forward and McMillan had his season hampered by injuries. A lot of people feel that McMillan is a slot-only guy because he isn't overly physical, but he has proven that he has the route-running ability to get open and make plays at all levels of the field. I think in Andy Reid's offense McMillan could play all over, both out of the slot and outside, and he could prove to be a better pro than several of the wideouts drafted ahead of him.
14. Ja'Lynn Polk - Washington - 6'1" - 203 pounds
Picking between Washington's two "other" wide receivers is kind of like picking your favorite flavor of ice cream. There isn't a wrong answer, just personal preference. I think Jalen McMillan is more dynamic and more of a playmaker. I think Ja'Lynn Polk has better hands and is more physical. I think Polk (like McMillan) has some inside/outside versatility and could be plugged into the Chiefs offense on day one and contribute. I don't know if Polk has the ceiling that McMillan does, but I do think he's the more reliable option and would be much appreciated after K.C.'s inconsistencies at the position last season.
If you're looking for a great slot-only type of receiver option, tier five has some great ones.