Chiefs' stud listed as one of the biggest breakout candidates of 2023 season
The Kansas City Chiefs have a young stud who is projected to be the biggest breakout player in 2023. It doesn't get talked about enough, but the trade for Kadarius Toney last season at the deadline was huge, not only for the 2022 season but for their future as well. The Chiefs had just traded […]
The Kansas City Chiefs have a young stud who is projected to be the biggest breakout player in 2023.
It doesn't get talked about enough, but the trade for Kadarius Toney last season at the deadline was huge, not only for the 2022 season but for their future as well. The Chiefs had just traded away Tyreek Hill, the best receiver to ever play for the Chiefs, a few months prior, so getting a guy who could possibly be a number one for the future was huge.
While Toney didn't put up wide receiver one number, he showed wide receiver one flash. The Chiefs liked what they saw from him in New York, even though it was in an offense that didn't really utilize him. Now, he is a guy the Chiefs expect to be their number-one guy when healthy.
That's probably why he is getting so much praise now as a guy who could have the biggest breakout season. One analyst has him at number two in guys to watch for breakout seasons, right behind Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett.
It's about time, right? Toney caught just 14 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns in seven regular-season games played for the Chiefs after being acquired at the trade deadline, but he did play a monster role in the Super Bowl LVII victory with a touchdown reception, and then the longest punt return in Super Bowl history. With JuJu Smith-Schuster gone, Toney is expected to be a consistent part of the offense in 2023. While he is mostly seen as a gadget player compared to a traditional WR1, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach believes Toney will play a major role moving forward. –Jordan Dajani, CBS Sports
The Chiefs expect him to develop more into a guy that they will use with a lot more volume than last year. The flashes that Toney showed last season were great too, even in his limited action. We saw how good he was at running routes on the first offensive snap of the game that he was in, where he completely spun around the defender to get open.
He also has the ability to go up and get any ball that is thrown his way, as his high point and jumping ability paired with his catch radius is just insane. Oh, and did I mention that he is super fast too, something the Chiefs love? When he gets the ball in the open field, it's a wrap.
Brett Veach, the Chiefs general manager thinks highly of him too, and he let us know recently when the 2023 offseason really kicked off.
"We have a lot of high hopes for him," Veach told reporters. "I mean he was a first-round pick for a reason. There's a reason why we traded for him and we felt like he was a first-round talent I think if he stays healthy and continues to spend that chemistry with the coaching staff and with Pat, which I think he is doing a great job at, I think the sky is the limit for him."
I think it's safe to say that if he does have a breakout season, which I think he most definitely will, the Chiefs will resign him to have him in Kansas City long-term.
