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The Kansas City Chiefs had three top needs to address at the onset of the 2023 offseason. Immediately, they filled the offensive tackle spot (Jawaan Taylor) and the EDGE position (Charles Omenihu) in free agency. However, the wide receiver position has not been accounted for quite yet. Trade rumors involving DeAndre Hopkins and other free agents available have not been finalized with a new home in Kansas City. Thus, the Chiefs could easily be looking heavily at the wide receiver position in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.
Overall, the Chiefs have been unable to see immediate production from rookie receivers under Andy Reid. Despite the potential, Kansas City receivers have largely been slow to picking up the intricate offensive duties at the position. Kansas City has to find at least one more viable wide receiver addition before the 2023 season. Hopefully the duo of Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore can take another step forward. Nonetheless, the Chiefs should not feel secure at that spot.
In the 2023 NFL Draft, there are going to be wide receiver options in any moment. Yet, Kansas City must be careful not to reach on certain wide receiver options. Given this is a weaker wide receiver class, the Chiefs have to be willing to play the board patiently, if they do not feel like moving up for a wide receiver.
Let’s look into the top options that make the most sense for the Chiefs in the first two days of the draft. What are the best-case scenarios for Kansas City?
Best-Case Scenario In Round 1
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Assuming the Kansas City Chiefs do not trade up to grab a wide receiver in the first round, they have to hope that the perceived top four wide receivers for most people fall. This would include Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zay Flowers, Quentin Johnston or Jordan Addison, in no particular order. Personally, I do not see any other wide receivers that are worth a first-round pick in 2023. And honestly, it would be shocking to me if both of Smith-Njigba and Flowers were available after pick 23 or so.
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For the Chiefs or any other team, all of these wide receiver options would fit different molds. But overall, each of them can rely on unique route running, separation skills and ball skills. If all of these options are off the board, it would be in Kansas City’s best interest to wait on taking a wide receiver.
Best Plan Of Action On Day Two Of Draft
Traits Chiefs Should Look For
If the Chiefs feel like a prime opportunity presents itself to select a wide receiver on day two, they should follow one basic rule. In my opinion, some wide receiver selected by Kansas City on day two should be able to be relied upon from their physical profile.
This could be viewed as finding a possible name that fits the greater height and weight thresholds. Hopefully, the speed and athleticism can be included for any of those type of wide receivers. The Chiefs could be best suited to select a physical, bigger bodied wide receiver in this area of the draft. Therefore, you avoid any possible redundancy from a size perspective. Perhaps, that may not be seen as of much of a qualifier in round one.
Possible Fits On Day Two
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Some names that fit this mold and the Kansas City offense are Jonathan Mingo, Cedric Tillman, Rashee Rice and Xavier Hutchinson. Each of these players can provide sneaky-good physicality. All of these names are potential threats down the field. Overall, the Chiefs would be taking tremendous fliers on a wide receiver of this makeup. That is a makeup that Kansas City has mostly lacked under Coach Reid, to boot. Getting skill sets like this into the Chiefs offense as these names continue to grow and improve presents a greater variety to the offensive attack.
Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs 2023 NFL Draft articles and analysis throughout the coming days. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.
– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.