The Kansas City Chiefs traded away Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins in March of 2022. While the Chiefs did win two Super Bowls following that trade, they’ve done it despite their wide receiver room rather than because of it. Kansas City has spent the better part of the past four offseasons trying to build a successful collection of receivers for Patrick Mahomes.
It’s been a long road, but it appears that Brett Veach and company have finally built a deep and talented receiver group.
The Chiefs post-Tyreek Hill receiver rooms have left a lot to be desired
The Chiefs were able to cobble together enough receiver production from guys like JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justin Watson, and Mecole Hardman to get by. However, they had to rely heavily on Travis Kelce (who was still in his prime) and a lot of Mahomes' magic. They tried investing a second-round pick in Skyy Moore and thought maybe they could salvage former first-round pick Kadarius Toney’s career, but neither of those moves ever developed like they were hoping.
The Chiefs then invested another second-round pick in Rashee Rice, a first-round pick in Xavier Worthy, and spent a little free-agent money to bring in Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Rice has been fantastic but had a major injury last year and then some legal issues. Hollywood missed most of last season with an injury. While Worthy was solid as a rookie, the Chiefs never really got to see if their top trio of receivers could work together effectively, and their depth issues persisted.
It looks like the Chiefs wide receiver room is finally ready to shine
Fast forward to present day and it looks like things have finally come together. Rashee Rice is set to make his season debut after serving his six-game suspension. Xavier Worthy has looked good after a promising rookie year and a small injury setback early in the season, and Hollywood Brown is coming off his best game as a Chief, hauling in two touchdown passes against the Detroit Lions.
However, it’s not just those top three guys who are making an impact. While Rice was out and Worthy was banged up, Tyquan Thornton stepped up big and has proven he can be a strong contributor as a deep threat throughout the season. He already has three touchdowns and is averaging over 20 yards per reception. JuJu Smith-Schuster is another guy who has been solid as well. He is currently third on the team in receptions behind Travis Kelce and Hollywood Brown and has proven himself a reliable short to intermediate option (as well as a guy that can get under opposing players' skin).
In years past, Smith-Schuster and Thornton would have arguably been Kansas City's best two receivers, but now the Chiefs have the advantage of having them be their fourth and fifth guys who can contribute as role players and sub in and out to help keep everyone fresh and explosive. That depth is something that KC hasn’t ever had in the Mahomes era, even during the Tyreek Hill years.
The Chiefs also have another potential option who could eventually play a bigger role in rookie Jalen Royals. The fourth-round pick was widely viewed as a great developmental option with some major run-after-the-catch upside. While he hasn’t needed to contribute this season, his upside as the number six receiver just shows how far this receiver room has come. If he develops any type of role this season as he gets more comfortable, it will just be a bonus.
While Travis Kelce has given Patrick Mahomes a Hall of Fame-caliber target for years, at 36 years old, it’s time for the receivers to take the weight of the passing game off his shoulders. For years, the Chiefs simply haven’t had the talent and depth at the position to make that happen, but it finally looks like Brett Veach’s plan is coming together. Mahomes has looked more and more comfortable with his targets as the season has gone by, and now he’s getting KC’s most talented receiver back to add to that group.
The Chiefs may be just 3-3, but with a two-time MVP at quarterback who is gaining confidence by the week and the most talented wide receiver room he’s ever had to work with, the rest of the NFL should be worried. The opposing fans and NFL talking heads who celebrated the downfall of the Chiefs early in the season may have gotten a little ahead of themselves. Here’s to hoping the Chiefs make a bold statement against the Las Vegas Raiders this week and prove without a doubt that the Chiefs’ passing game is ready for takeoff.