Grading the pick: Kansas City Chiefs snag hidden gem WR Cyrus Allen in Round 5, and it could pay off in a big way
The Kansas City Chiefs grabbed themselves a sleeper wide receiver in Round 5. The selection could pay off in a big way on both offense and special teams.
The Kansas City Chiefs have made their last pick of Round 5 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
With pick No. 176, the Chiefs selected Cyrus Allen, WR, Cincinnati.
Day 3 has typically been where Brett Veach has found some hidden gems during his tenure as general manager. Allen is a pick that could be the next to follow that trend.
Everything to know about new Chiefs WR Cyrus Allen
Age: 22
A to Z Sports Draft Projection: Round 6, Pick 203
Listed at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Allen just fits what the Chiefs like at the wide receiver position. He’s an easy separator against man coverage and averaged over 16 yards per catch during his career. Allen is not just a straight-line receiver and can do some of the gadget work Andy Reid loves. He’s got quick feet, ball skills (2% dropped pass rate in 2025), and legit route-running ability. In 2026, he recorded 51 receptions, 674 yards, and 13 touchdowns for the Bearcats.
Allen wasn’t invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine after torching guys at the Senior Bowl. He ran a 4.47s 40-yard dash at the Cincinnati Pro Day. He’s likely a Day 3 prospect, but I could see the Chiefs taking him earlier in Rounds 4 or 5. Allen comes in at No. 209 on the consensus big board.
Charles goldman
A to Z Sports
Cyrus Allen is the type of sleeper swing for the Chiefs that could pay off big time
Wide receiver was the biggest remaining need for the Chiefs. While many felt they could deviate from their preferred prototype in this draft, this pick confirms that Andy Reid likes what he likes at receiver.
Allen began his college career at Louisiana Tech, transferred to Texas A&M, and finished his senior year at Cincinnati. He tied the Bearcats’ school record with 13 touchdown receptions in the 2025 season. He’s a better fit as a Z or slot receiver in the NFL than he is as an X receiver, so that’s still a bit of a need for Kansas City. That said, it’s hard not to get excited about a guy like Allen based on his sheer ability to separate in man coverage.
Nikko Remigio is the biggest player at risk of losing his job to Allen. At Louisiana Tech, Allen returned 12 kicks for 247 yards. He’s not played the return specialist role over the past two seasons, but rest assured that Dave Toub is eyeballing Allen for that role in Kansas City.
Grade: B+
