Kansas City Chiefs to host intriguing 2026 NFL Draft prospect on visit — and they already have some AFC West competition for him
The Kansas City Chiefs are set to host Georgia State WR Ted Hurst on a top-30 visit, but so is another team in the AFC West.
The Kansas City Chiefs will continue to schedule pre-draft visits with 2026 NFL Draft prospects leading into April.
Chiefs GM Brett Veach seemingly has his eye on the wide receiver position, with top-30 visits confirmed for USC WR Makai Lemon and Ohio State WR Carnell Tate. They also appear set to have Mizzou WR Kevin Coleman Jr. at the facility for the team’s upcoming local pro day.
According to NFL/CFB analyst and former Commanders team reporter Ryan Fowler, the Chiefs also have a top-30 visit scheduled with Georgia State WR Ted Hurst. One of 2025’s receiving leaders in the Sun Belt Conference, Hurst recorded 71 receptions for 1,004 yards and six touchdowns for the Panthers. Had he played in a power conference, many believe that Hurst would’ve been a surefire first-round draft pick.
If Kansas City is truly eyeing Hurst in the 2026 NFL Draft, they might have some competition within their own division when it comes to landing him.
Chiefs and Raiders both set to host Georgia State WR Ted Hurst on a top-30 visit
The Las Vegas Raiders are among the teams set to host Georgia State WR Ted Hurst on a top-30 visit. The Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, and Indianapolis Colts also have visits lined up with Hurst. The Chiefs will have to be cognizant of those teams if they’re targeting Hurst in the range of pick No. 74 through pick No. 109. They may consider him as high as pick No. 40 if they truly believe in his traits.
Ted Hurst’s college stats
- Valdosta State 2022: 22 receptions, 431 yards, 6 touchdowns
- Valdosta State 2023: 38 receptions, 596 yards, 4 touchdowns
- Georgia State 2024: 56 receptions, 961 yards, 9 touchdowns
- Georgia State 2025: 71 receptions, 1,004 yards, 6 touchdowns
Hurst really burst onto the scene at the Senior Bowl, where he stood out with his size, speed, physicality, and ability to catch tough passes in traffic. That last bit should come as no surprise, as he dealt with one of the highest rates of uncatchable passes among draft-eligible wide receivers throughout his college career. It also somewhat speaks to his high drop rate.
At the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, Hurst quietly established himself as one of the elite athletes in the class at the receiver position. His burst score was aided by a 98th percentile broad jump, and his speed score was impressive for his size. It all contributed to a 92.3 A to Z Sports Athletic composite, drawing comparisons to receivers such as Rome Odunze, Alshon Jeffrey, and Mike Wallace.
Ultimately, Hurst would be a bit of a departure from the norm for Kansas City, especially in terms of size and skill set. Typically, they’ve targeted the small, quick, and elusive receivers. Hurst wins with his strength and tackle-breaking ability after the catch. He’s really smooth as a route runner, especially when it comes to acceleration and deceleration on the comeback, hitch, and curl routes. He’s also one of the best receivers in this draft class when it comes to red zone fades, which is an area the Chiefs could serve to improve on offense.
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