KC Chiefs enter 2022 season comfortable with overall talent, versatility in WR corps
Since becoming the Kansas City Chiefs’ starting quarterback full-time in 2018, Patrick Mahomes could always count on his two All-Pro security blankets.
That scenario has changed.
Tight end Travis Kelce remains, but wide receiver Tyreek Hill took his talent to South Beach after the Chiefs traded him to the Miami Dolphins during the offseason.
On paper, replacing Hill’s elite production, which includes a team-record 111 catches in 2021 and four career 1,000-yard receiving seasons, seems impossible. The Chiefs also need to replace the contributions of receivers Byron Pringle and Marcus Kemp, both of whom had key roles on offense and special teams, as well as Demarcus Robinson.
While there’s a lot of unknown, the Chiefs are far from worried when it comes to filling those holes.
“I felt like we could fill in whatever we needed to fill in,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “You’re not going to just take and find another Tyreek — that’s not what you’re going to find — but you can find other guys and try to utilize their strengths. I mean, that’s kind of how I go, so the angst isn’t there.”
The Chiefs enacted a plan to bolster their wide receiver corps alongside speedy veteran holdover Mecole Hardman through free agency and the draft.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster headline the team’s free-agent signings, and the Chiefs used a second-round pick on Skyy Moore. Factor in the emergence of Justin Watson, who joined the Chiefs on a reserve/future deal, and Daurice Fountain, who’s returning from the 2021 roster, and the Chiefs believe they’re in a good place this fall.
“I think we’re comfortable with the talent,” general manager Brett Veach said. “We had that group that was together for so long — Tyreek, Sammy (Watkins) had his stint here, Pringle — I think we had continuity.
“There’s talent there (with the new lineup). I think in many ways there might be more overall talent. I mean, you’re not going to have Tyreek Hill — that’s an outlier — but from top to bottom, I think there’s more versatility, maybe overall talent, from one to six or five.”
THE REPLACEMENTS
Hill’s elite speed put fear in opponents’ hearts, but this year’s crop of Chiefs wide receivers can still get over the top of a defense. Hardman and Valdes-Scantling have sub-4.4 speed, while Moore has 4.41 speed and Watson is deceptively fast.
The Chiefs’ 2022 receiving corps also provides size and proven production.
Hardman totaled 126 catches for 1,791 yards and 12 touchdowns over the past three seasons and enters a contract year with the chance to step out from Hill’s shadow. The fourth-year pro also finds himself in a leadership role.
“I think it comes naturally, just being here and knowing everything,” Hardman said. “It’s easy when the guys come to you and ask you things and put you in the position to help them out. I’m definitely loving the role. It’s cool, and I’ve got some older guys like Ju (Smith-Schuster) and Marquez, so it’s good to have them around and they help out a lot, too.”
Like Hardman, the 6-foot-4, 206-pound Valdes-Scantling provides the Chiefs a new deep threat. He had 123 catches for 2,153 yards and 13 touchdowns in four seasons with the Green Bay Packers, averaging a healthy 17.5 yards per catch.
The 6-1, 215-pound Smith-Schuster amassed 323 catches for 3,855 yards and 26 touchdowns in five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. And while he can get deep, the Chiefs will rely on Smith-Schuster to punish defenses with intermediate routes.
Moore, who measures 5-11, 195 pounds, finished his college career at Western Michigan with 171 catches, 2,482 yards and 16 touchdowns. The rookie wideout showed during training camp that he can excel in multiple aspects of the passing game, including getting deep against an opposing secondary.
The 6-3, 215-pound Watson, who spent the past four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, rarely dropped passes during camp, while the 6-2, 210-pound Fountain projects as a role-player receiver.
With this collection of players, the Chiefs have put together a roster of receivers that can do a little bit of everything in the passing game.
“When you have guys that are big and still run fast and stretch the field but can make those tough contested catches, it shows how versatile they are,” Mahomes said. “And I think it attests that we’ll come from everywhere this year.
“It’s not going to be one guy. It’s going to be everybody kind of putting their blueprint on this offense, and I’m excited for it.”
Reid agreed.
“It’s great to have the luxury of Pat Mahomes, to where he’ll make a lot of players look really good,” the head coach said. “But now it’s where we’re good with the talent standpoint. I think we have guys who can do things.”
MAKING THEIR MARK
Each of the Chiefs’ new receivers will soon enough find his place in the team’s offensive scheme.
Receivers coach Joe Bleymaier made that point when he said all of them would have their opportunities to write their own stories.
It’s a challenge the wide receivers embrace.
“To be honest, the story that I’m trying to write is, I would say I was hurt last year, didn’t play a lot of ball,” said Smith-Schuster, who has quickly developed a chemistry with Mahomes. “And coming to this team, I’m just going to let my play write the story. Me making plays on the field, doing what I’m told ... I came here to win. And this is a team that wins.”
For Valdes-Scantling, playing in the Chiefs’ offense is an opportunity for him to showcase what he can do. Truth be told, his goal is to become one of the NFL’s elite wide receivers.
“You play this game to be remembered,” he said, “and you play this game to be the best at it. That’s always been my goal and that’s what I strive for every day.
“Obviously, when I was in Green Bay, I got to learn from some of the best that ever did it — Davante Adams, the best in the league now, and with Aaron (Rodgers). Then, I had some greats come through like Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, so I got to learn from a lot of those guys. And being around in practice, I got to learn what being the best look like, so that’s my goal.”
Bottom line, Mahomes still possesses a polished group of weapons. Hill’s gone, but the team’s current cadre of pass-catchers bring unique skills that can hurt a defense from various points on the field.
And perhaps most importantly, the Chiefs have confidence in each of them.
“I take a lot of pride in that just knowing that I was called to do a mission, a mission that they get done quite often, which is win,” Moore said. “I feel like we brought in a group of great guys, capable guys, to get the job done and keep the tradition going.”
This story was originally published September 7, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
