Chiefs are loaded at receiver. Here’s our prediction for the depth chart this season
When the Chiefs open the 2020 season against Houston on a Thursday night next month, the team’s wide receiver corps should offer a theme.
Familiarity.
Maybe exclusively familiarity.
Five Chiefs wideouts caught at least two passes last season. All are back this year. Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson and Byron Pringle offer this position group more consistency than any other on the roster.
With training camp underway, they’re the five players in line to comprise the group on this year’s 53-man roster, though several more will be trying to prove their case and fighting for spots.
It’s an especially noteworthy fact, given the absence of organized team activities and workouts over the offseason. Chiefs coach Andy Reid has classified the timing of passing plays as the element that will require the most work during the condensed preparation. That process grows easier with the continuity between quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his receivers.
Even with the consistency outside the numbers, there are still some intriguing things to watch with the group. The Star’s series of training camp previews continues here with a look at their wide receivers.
Current roster
Andrew Baccellia, Gehrig Dieter, Maurice Ffrench, Jody Fortson, Mecole Hardman, Tyreek Hill, Kalija Lipscomb, Byron Pringle, Demarcus Robinson, Justice Shelton-Mosley, Sammy Watkins
Key battle
Tyreek Hill is the No. 1.
Sammy Watkins is likely the No. 2.
But who’s next on the depth chart? Demarcus Robinson? Or does Mecole Hardman vault forward in Year Two?
The Chiefs used three wide receivers on 60% of their plays last season, per Sharp Football. Robinson grasped the majority of the No. 2 role in 2019, playing 735 snaps; Hardman played just 471.
But Hardman made the most of his opportunities, converting 26 receptions into 538 yards (20.7 per catch) and six touchdowns. He flashed the potential that turned him into a second-round pick — his scores came on plays of 42, 83, 21, 30, 63 and 48 yards.
His playing time dwindled as the season aged. After 40-plus snaps in each of the first four weeks, he played fewer than than mark all but once over the final 12.
But as someone who has played receiver for only a handful of years, there’s logic behind an expectation for improvement. His routes can gain sharpness. His blocking can become a weapon — one of the key attributes that keeps Robinson a preferred option.
Remember, Tyreek Hill had just 593 receiving yards and six touchdowns in his rookie season. Hardman is just 22 years old.
Our best guess: After Robinson saw overwhelming more snaps in 2019, that gap should narrow closer to an even split, and Hardman should see a few more opportunities in two-receiver sets, as well.
Who to watch
When the Chiefs signed Sammy Watkins to a three-year, $48 million contract in 2018, they expected more than six touchdowns in his first two seasons in Kansas City.
They’ve been quick to commend Watkins for other methods of contribution, and his playing time supports that, but he undoubtedly would like to become more of a fixture in their passing game.
In the opening week of 2019, he appeared to get his wish, going for a career-high 198 yards and three touchdowns. Then he didn’t score again until the AFC Championship Game.
Watkins agreed to restructure his contract this offseason, moving to incentive-laden one-year deal that preserved his spot on the roster and offers plenty of motivation for this being the season he puts it all together.
Previous installments, and remaining schedule, for our two-week Chiefs training camp preview series:
Monday: Quarterbacks: We know who No. 1 is, but what about the backups?
Tuesday: The defensive line: It will be a strength again.
Wednesday, Aug. 5: Sizing up the running backs depth chart
Thursday, Aug. 6: At linebacker, Hitchens anchors the corps
Friday, Aug. 7: Plenty of targets for Patrick Mahomes at WR
Monday, Aug. 10: After Ward, Chiefs have corner questions
Tuesday, Aug. 11: Among the tight ends, it’s Kelce and ...
Wednesday, Aug. 12: Safeties
Thursday, Aug. 13: offensive line
Friday, Aug. 14: special teams
This story was originally published August 7, 2020 at 5:00 AM.