Picking the best Round 1 draft target for the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the 2024 NFL Combine
Everyone knows that the wide receiver position is among the top needs for the Kansas City Chiefs heading into the 2024 NFL draft. The fanbase has been thirsty for improvements to the position group since the team decided to trade away Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins and revamp the defense ahead of the 2022 […]
Everyone knows that the wide receiver position is among the top needs for the Kansas City Chiefs heading into the 2024 NFL draft.
The fanbase has been thirsty for improvements to the position group since the team decided to trade away Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins and revamp the defense ahead of the 2022 NFL season.
They've since invested two second-round draft picks in the position with Skyy Moore in 2022 and Rashee Rice in 2023. They traded to acquire WR Kadarius Toney in 2022 as well. One of those moves has worked out much better than the others, which means that Brett Veach still has some work to do.
As we approach the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, I asked Chiefs fans to weigh in on a hypothetical Round 1. With four impressive prospects available at some key positions of need, 33.3% of our 637 voters chose Texas WR Xavier Worthy in the first round.
What exactly does Worthy bring to the table as a first-round draft prospect for the Chiefs and how can he improve his stock at the Combine? We'll examine below. . .
Why the Chiefs should draft Texas WR Xavier Worthy with pick No. 32 in the 2024 NFL draft
While speed and acceleration are both distinct and elite parts of Worthy's game, his skillset is more nuanced than simply outrunning defenders. He can win at all three levels of the field, whether that's running a go route, catching a pass behind the line of scrimmage, or catching the ball in traffic over the middle of the field. He also has the tertiary skills to succeed at all of those things, whether we're talking deep ball-tracking or yards-after-catch ability.
One of the most notable parts of Worthy's game as he enters the NFL is the fact he was asked to play a lot of different roles within the Texas offense. It's massively beneficial for a player coming into a system like Kansas City's where receivers are asked to learn X, Z, and Zebra wide receiver positions. Being able to do more within the structure of Andy Reid's offense is key to a player seeing the field early and often.
Some may seek to reduce his role to a slot receiver because of his 6-foot and 175-pound size, but in 14 games played last season, Worthy had 196 slot snaps compared to 294 snaps out wide according to PFF. It led to one of the most productive seasons of his career from yards (1,026) and receptions (75) standpoints. He's actually played a higher percentage of his career snaps out wide compared to in the slot.
Which Texas wide receiver is a better fit for Kansas City?
Worthy isn't the only wide receiver from Texas in the 2024 NFL draft. Both Adonai "AD" Mitchell and Jordan Whittingham have also declared, but Mitchell is the only other player from the program getting some first-round hype.
I examined Mitchell early during the 2023 NFL season as a potential fit for K.C. in the 2024 NFL draft:
Is Texas WR AD Mitchell what the Chiefs’ offense is lacking?
Our 2024 NFL draft prospect series for the Kansas City Chiefs continues with a wide receiver from the Texas Longhorns.
A to Z Sports film analyst James Foster also looked at what Mitchell brings to the table:
Which of the two players is a better fit for the Chiefs and Andy Reid's offense? It's mostly a matter of picking your poison for Kansas City.
You can boil Mitchell down to a size-and-speed threat with a flare for red-zone production. As for Worthy, you're looking at a player who can produce at all three levels of the field, in multiple roles.
That includes the designed touches that Andy Reid's offense lacked at times in 2023. You also must consider the fact that Worthy is a punt returner specialist with 40 career returns for 564 yards and a touchdown. If Chiefs special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Dave Toub likes Worthy, that could give him the edge over a player like Mitchell.
Final word ahead of the combine
Worthy will put his elite trait on tape at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, and that's his speed. He's a former track athlete, having previously recorded a 10.55s 100-meter and 21.41s 200-meter in high school. He'll also have a chance to prove that he's more than a speed guy during the on-field drills.
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