NFL rumors: Patriots were in 'high-speed pursuit' of Xavier Worthy in draft

The Kansas City Chiefs got a deal done with the Buffalo Bills who also had the Patriots chasing down the pick.

Time often reveals the context of why and how decisions are made around the National Football League and just one month after the 2024 NFL Draft, some further information is coming out about the level of interest in Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy.

The Chiefs drafted Worthy with their first-round selection in the draft back in April at No. 28 overall after trading up from No. 32 in a deal with the Buffalo Bills. As it turns out, they had competition for that choice.

Former Cleveland Browns general manager and long-time NFL exec Mike Lombardi recently appeared on the Pat McAfee Show to discuss a number of subjects, including the New England Patriots' interest in adding Worthy to the weapons surrounding new quarterback Drake Maye. Specifically Lombardi told the ESPN host that the Patriots had a ton of interest in Worthy as well.

"They had an opportunity to take a deal from New England. New England was in high-speed pursuit of Worthy. They wanted Worthy badly. They were making calls to get that pick and Buffalo had then on the phone. So was Kansas City."

Lombardi himself questioned why the Bills would make the choice that they did to avoid helping a division rival by going with the current conference favorite.

"I think if you’re Brandon Beane, you have to sit there and say, ‘Maybe Kansas City offered me a lot more, but why would I give Worthy to them who’s a weapon who could become the next Tyreek Hill for them?’ I know he’s undersized at 160, but he plays bigger and he’s a tough kid," said Lombardi.

"Why am I doing anything to help the Chiefs, especially since I lost to them with 13 seconds? I missed a 44-yard field goal to send it into overtime. Like I haven’t been able to get through that door to get to where I need to go to," he continued.

"So I don’t understand that. I would have been more than happy to give him to the Patriots who are working on a new regime, who’s got a new quarterback. In three years, if Worthy’s a great player, that’s great. Maybe they’re ready to go, but I’m worried about today and helping the Chiefs out would be the last thing I would want to do.

"That’s a strange one and that’s going to come back and bite them in the ass if Worthy is as good as we think he could be. And Reid does a great job of coaching these young guys."

The Patriots went on to select wide receivers Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in the draft's first four rounds to give Maye some young weapons around him after missing out on Worthy.