KC Chiefs trade with Pats again in NFL draft, select receiver Skyy Moore 54th overall
The Chiefs moved down four spots in Friday night’s second round of the NFL Draft, partnering on another trade with the New England Patriots to select Western Michigan wide receiver Skyy Moore with the 54th overall pick.
And there was no doubt who the Chiefs had in mind when they made that slight move down.
“We were looking at Skyy,” Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi said. “We wanted Skyy.”
The addition of Moore gives Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes another weapon and bolsters a wide receiver corps that saw the trade of Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins in March.
The Chiefs previously added to the position group with the free-agent signings of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. But using a second-round pick on another receiver made perfect sense because veteran wideout Mecole Hardman is entering the final year of his rookie contract and Smith-Schuster will be playing on a one-year deal.
The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Moore comes off a productive 2021 season in which he totaled 95 catches for 1,292 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 13.6 yards per reception.
“This kid is not the biggest guy, but he is tough,” Borgonzi said. “He’s dependable, he’s smart — versatile guy who will fit really well in this offense to what we do.”
Moore finished his college career with 171 receptions, 2,482 yards and 16 touchdowns in three seasons, and he knew he was ready for the NFL.
“I was clicking on all cylinders mentally,” he said. “And going out every Saturday, I was executing to the best of my ability. I felt like I was just ready for that next step, just mentally and physically.”
Moore, who possesses 4.41 speed, will need time to learn the complex offensive scheme of head coach Andy Reid, but the Chiefs can develop him behind Hardman, Smith-Schuster and Valdes-Scantling. The Chiefs also have receivers Josh Gordon, Daurice Fountain and Cornell Powell returning from last season.
“Me coming to the room, I’m just looking to make it better, make it more competitive and contribute what I can to the team,” Moore said.
Meanwhile, the trade to move back from 50th to 54th also netted the Chiefs a fifth-round pick (No. 158), giving the team a total of 11 selections in this year’s draft.
Kansas City and New England collaborated Thursday night on a trade that gave the Chiefs the 21st overall pick. In exchange, the Chiefs sent the Patriots their 29th, 94th and 121st overall selections in this year’s draft.
Chiefs’ draft slots
- Round 1 (21st overall, via Patriots): CB Trent McDuffie
- Round 1 (30th): DE George Karlaftis
- Round 2 (54th, via Patriots): WR Skyy Moore
- Round 2 (62nd): S Bryan Cook
- Round 3 (103rd)
- Round 4 (135th)
- Round 5 (158th, via Patriots)
- Round 7 (233rd)
- Round 7 (243rd)
- Round 7 (251st)
- Round 7 (259th)
This story was originally published April 29, 2022 at 8:13 PM.
