Wide receiver is a perplexing position for the Chiefs right now.
Sammy Watkins and Tyreek Hill form one of the best WR duos in the NFL. The only problem is they both come with a set of questions in the 2019 season. Will Watkins be able to stay healthy for the Chiefs? Is Hill bound to catch a suspension from the league or worse for the child abuse allegations that surround him? The Chiefs could go from a top receiving corps to a group of backups really quickly.
They should be doing work on this receiver class because the depth they lost in free agency, but they should also be looking to add more firepower in the event they need it.
Here’s a look at some of the pieces they could consider adding in each round of the 2019 NFL draft:
Round 1: Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
There might not be a receiver in the 2019 NFL draft that is more explosive than Brown. He’s got a great release and is one of the best route runners in the class. He’s shown that he can win despite often being at a size disadvantage. He has home run potential every time he touches the ball, which few players in this class can stake claim to.
Perhaps most importantly for the Chiefs, Brown played with a mobile quarterback, Kyler Murray. They want receivers that will be able to get open when Patrick Mahomes is forced to escape pressure and throw on the run. Brown’s experience doing that in college is certainly a bonus.
The big concern with Brown is his slight stature and injury history. He measured in at just 5 feet 9 and 166 pounds. He had surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury recently and hasn’t been able to work out ahead of the draft. Lisfranc injuries can be difficult to overcome, especially for players that rely on quickness.
Brown would be a risky pick that could be highly rewarding for the Chiefs.
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Round 2: Hakeem Butler, Iowa State
Let me preface this by saying that Butler is the top-rated receiver in my rankings. I just don’t figure that NFL teams see Butler through the same lens that I do. NFL evaluators tend to fixate themselves on certain things with receivers, and one of those things is drops.
During his 2018 season, which was a breakout season, Butler had just a 58 percent catch rate. Many of his dropped passes seem to be due to a lack of concentration, which is a lot more fixable than something like bad hands, but it’s still a problem. On top of the drops, Butler only has one season of strong production, which happens to be another one of those things the NFL likes to obsess over.
The upside with Butler is immense. He’s listed at 6 feet 5 and 227 pounds with 35.25-inch arms. He’s got great speed, leaping ability and contact balance. He’s not just another big-bodied target either; he’s proved he has the ability to separate. In 2018, Butler led the crop of draft-eligible receivers in deep passing yards, according to Pro Football Focus.
If I’m the Chiefs, I’d take a chance at developing Butler further, and if they can get him in the second round, he might wind up being a bargain.
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Round 3: Emanuel Hall, Missouri
Hall has proved to be one of the best athletes in this receiver class. He ran a sub-4.4 40-yard dash, jumped a 43.5 inch vertical and posted 15 bench-press repetitions at the combine. He did all of this while dealing with a lingering groin injury too. If that’s not competitive toughness, I’m not sure what is.
One thing I love about Hall is that he wins with his releases and can defeat press man coverage regularly. If you don’t get hands on him at the line of scrimmage to disrupt his route, he’ll run right past you. That’s a valuable asset to have at the next level. His lack of versatility will likely hurt him, and he seems reliant on his ability as a deep threat. The Chiefs like receivers who can do a bit of everything.
Hall was in Kansas City for their local pro day, and they had planned to work him out privately prior to the pro day. There is certainly some interest.
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Round 4: Miles Boykin, Notre Dame
Boykin will be a fascinating case study in this draft class. He had one of the most dominant combine performances of any receiver in this lot. He posted elite scores in about every drill other than the bench press. The issue is that his production doesn’t match the athlete. What was the cause for Boykin’s meager production at Notre Dame?
His athleticism certainly shows up on film at times. His ability to go up and get the football, adjust to poorly thrown passes and release off the line all really impress. Perhaps a reason he wasn’t utilized better at Notre Dame is his awareness. Yes, he had to deal with suboptimal quarterback play at Notre Dame, but there are ways a wideout can make things easier on a QB.
One thing that I know will stand out to the Chiefs with Boykin is his willingness to throw a block. He seems to like to do that type of dirty work, and he’s pretty darn good at it too. If the Chiefs wait until Day 3 to select a player, this should be the one they prioritize.
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Round 5: Jazz Ferguson, Northwestern State
Ferguson is a little bit raw for the NFL game, but that is expected for a player from a Southland Conference school like Northwestern State. Ferguson is a toolsy prospect, though, which is exactly the kind of prospect you hope to find in the fifth round.
At 6-5 and 227 pounds, Ferguson has a massive catch radius. He routinely goes up and gets every ball put in the general vicinity of him. He’s faster and more sudden than he should be at that size, running a 4.45-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.
Ferguson is good at catching and tracking the football, but I’ve noticed that he does lose balance at times after he makes a catch. Even with the temporary balance lapses, this is a canvas that NFL receivers coaches would want to work with.
The Chiefs have done quite a bit of research into Jazz’s brother Jaylon, who is an edge rusher from Louisiana Tech, so there’s little doubt in my mind that he’s on their radar as well.
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Round 6: Tyron Johnson, Oklahoma State
There are plenty of former five-star recruits in this draft class, and few of them are as intriguing as Tyron Johnson. Johnson left Oklahoma State early after a 2018 season in which he caught 53 passes for 845 yards and seven touchdowns.
He didn’t get an invite to the NFL combine, but at his pro day he checked all the boxes. He measured in at 6-1 and 193 pounds, which fits a particular profile the Chiefs have been looking for at the WR position. He also ran a blazing fast 4.33 40-yard dash and had 16 repetitions on the bench press. The Chiefs sent scouts to his pro day to put him through drills.
Johnson has expertise as a return man in college and high school. It’s clear the Chiefs are looking to offset the losses of De’Anthony Thomas and Chris Conley, who both served as depth in the punt and kick return game.
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Round 7: John Ursua, Hawaii
Ursua led the FBS with 16 receiving touchdowns and ranked fifth in receiving yardage. He’s sudden, explosive and he isn’t just a speed threat either. A lot of his touchdowns came in the red zone, an area where the Chiefs have struggled at times.
At his pro day, Ursua posted numbers that would place him among the top performers at the combine. Specifically his 3-cone time and 60-yard shuttle would have placed him first in the class. With that in mind, his weigh-in came back under his listed weight at 5-9 1/2.
One bonus for Ursua is that he has some experience as a punt returner, and if the Chiefs lose Hill to suspension, they’d have a fill-in option here. The Chiefs already have one receiver from the University of Hawaii on their roster in Marcus Kemp. Adding another in the late rounds wouldn’t hurt.
Honorable mention late-rounders/UDFAs: Malik Taylor (Ferris State), Vinny Papale (Delaware) and Ashton Dulin (Malone)
Potential Chiefs prospects
Quarterbacks (Coming soon)
Running backs (Coming soon)
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Guards (Coming soon)
Centers (Coming soon)
Defensive tackles (Coming soon)
Defensive ends (Coming soon)
Linebackers (Coming soon)
Cornerbacks
Safeties
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