Kansas City Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy joins elite company with final stat line of his rookie season
When the Kansas City Chiefs drafted wide receiver Xavier Worthy with the 28th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, fans were cautiously optimistic. The Chiefs' recent history with drafting receivers has been a bit shaky. There have been some successes, such as their decision to take a risk on Tyreek Hill back in 2016, […]
When the Kansas City Chiefs drafted wide receiver Xavier Worthy with the 28th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, fans were cautiously optimistic.
The Chiefs' recent history with drafting receivers has been a bit shaky. There have been some successes, such as their decision to take a risk on Tyreek Hill back in 2016, who has been one of the best since bursting on the scene.
There was even a bit of a gamble taking Rashee Rice in 2023, but he had stellar rookie season and appeared poised to establish himself as an elite receiver in 2024 before going down with a season-ending torn LCL.
On the flip side, Kansas City has missed on some guys at receiver. 2022 second-round pick Skyy Moore has failed to make any impact, and 2021 fifth-round pick Cornell Powell has never recorded a regular season statistic. 2019 second-round pick Mecole Hardman has certainly made several big plays as a gadget weapon for the Chiefs, but never really developed into a legitimate receiver.
After lacking greatly at the position in 2023, K.C. couldn't pass up trying for another receiver, especially one like Worthy, who set the NFL Combine 40-yard dash record at 4.21 seconds. Worthy rewarded the Chiefs by doing something that only three other players (Hill, RB Gale Sayers, RB Doak Walker) have ever accomplished as rookies – recording six receiving touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns.
That is very elite company for Worthy. Sayers and Walker are both in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Hill is well on his way. Those are obviously huge shoes to fill for Worthy, but being paired with coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes is going to keep Worthy is position to be a productive player.
Worthy made tremendous progress from the beginning to the end of his rookie year. He led all Chiefs wide receivers in catches (59) and yards (638), and his nine total touchdowns led the entire team. Worthy will undoubtably play a big role for the Chiefs during the postseason, and his versatility could be the x-factor that makes the offense difficult to contain.
