Drafting for Impact
Nothing is guaranteed with any NFL draft pick but that feels a bit truer than normal for each of the Chiefs' top two picks.
Wide receiver Xavier Worthy and offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia were the first two selections by Brett Veach in this year's draft, and he traded up for both prospects. Both players fit roster needs but safer options were available—at least those with likely higher floors at the professional level. That's because Worthy and Suamataia are both dice rolls in a way—three-point shots instead of layups.
That's good because that's what will keep the Chiefs rolling at the levels of success to which they've become accustomed. Championship teams rely on elite players to carry them, and the Chiefs aren't going to churn them out year after year picking behind 31 other teams.
Worthy comes with durability concerns but there's no questioning his world-class speed—the very vertical element that's been lacking since Tyreek Hill was traded away. (More on this in a minute.) Worthy is only part of the answer here, but the Chiefs' only first-round selection at WR since Jon Baldwin (2011) is a big statement piece. If it works, Worthy is going to be a household name.
The same impact will be felt if Suamataia settles into the left tackle position this year. Ever since the Chiefs lost Eric Fisher to injury and struck out trying to lure Trent Williams out of the Bay Area, they've had a revolving door of sorts and no one has claimed the job long term—not Orlando Brown or Lucas Niang or Donovan Smith or Wanya Morris or Prince Tega Wanogho or Geron Christian.
Okay, we're reaching with a bit of that list, but you get the idea. Nothing has been the same at the bookends since losing Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz. Suamataia has the athletic upside and impressive build to grow into the role, but he's a project, which is why he was available at the bottom of the second round. Morris is also very much in the running here, too, but between them, the Chiefs have a nice young competitive duo to take to camp with hopes of elevating this line for years to come.