Few positions are more in focus for the Chiefs this offseason than wide receiver, after Kansas City’s receiving corps was plagued by drops and wild inconsistency throughout the 2023 season.
That could be on about to change, as NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein projects the Chiefs tab Texas electrifying Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy with the No. 32 overall pick in April’s draft.
“So, the Chiefs need to find another pass-catcher to go with Rashee Rice(who might be an emerging star in his own right). The separation speed of Worthy — who set a new combine record with a 4.21 40 — is unique, giving him the ability to rip the top off of defenses, and he’s much less linear than recently released veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling.”
Worthy’s blazing speed translated into production this past season, as the explosive wideout caught 75 passes for 1,014 yards and five touchdowns.
“Xavier Worthy is an explosive down-the-field threat who has the speed to consistently run past defenders,” Keith Sanchez writes of Worthy, for The Draft Network.
“He uses that speed to set up other elements of his game. Worthy is versatile in alignment, which allows offensive coordinators to utilize him in multiple ways and allows him to be put in situations to take advantage of matchups and coverage”
During three standout seasons in Austin, Worthy caught 197 passes for 2,755 yards with 26 touchdowns, while averaging 14 yards per reception.
After moving on from Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and given Kadarius Toney’s disappointing start to his career, that kind of production may be exactly what the Chiefs need to elevate the offense in 2024.
With the versatility to line up on the perimeter, or in the slot, Pro Football Focus points out that Worthy pulled down six deep catches while adding five contested catches for the Longhorns last season.
Drawing comparisons to former Eagles superstar DeSean Jackson, who Andy Reid drafted, Worthy would add a vertical threat for Mahomes and the Chiefs’ passing game.
