Chiefs Expected to Sign 6-Foot-4 Wide Receiver to Join Rashee Rice
Assuming that both star defenders Chris Jones and L’Jarius Sneed are kept in 2024, the Kansas City Chiefs are expected by most media insiders and analysts to target the wide receiver position in the first round of the NFL draft due to the absence of obvious positional needs.
ESPN insider Field Yates, who published his first 2024 mock draft on February 14, is included in this generalization. He projected that Kansas City would choose wide receiver Adonai Mitchell of the Texas Longhorns at selection No. 32.
Yates reasoned, “The wide receiver issues facing the Chiefs are no secret, and Mitchell would help the cause.” “The 6-4, 196-pound player has the frame and length to leave his mark in the red zone and down the field. He runs routes with exquisite smoothness.”
The reputable analyst continued, “The Chiefs hit a home run with Rashee Rice in the second round last April, and this would provide them with another playmaker to build the passing game around.” With his 15.4 yards per reception average and 11 touchdowns from the previous season, Mitchell would be a fantastic asset to Patrick Mahomes and the Super Bowl champions.
Adonai Mitchell’s strength is his ability to run routes, catch contested catches, and obstruct headline weaknesses.
When reading through the scouting reports on Mitchell, you’ll notice that his route-running is frequently described as “smooth.” Yates said as much, as did Derrik Klassen of Bleacher Report and Keith Sanchez of The Draft Network.
In the short, mid, and deep zones of the field, Mitchell is a slick route-runner who separates from defenders, according to Sanchez, while Klassen commented about his long, lean physique and “functional” routes.
Andy Reid, the head coach, might be intrigued by Rice’s and Travis Kelce’s similar “high-IQ” ability to locate open space.
Klassen claims that Mitchell’s ability to gain yards after a reception is “hot and cold.” The draft scout described the Texas star as someone who “can be slow to turn himself into a runner at times,” but added that his “change of direction isn’t threatening.”
As a prospect, Mitchell’s two biggest shortcomings were “blocking” and “inconsistent” contested catch abilities. Despite this, his vertical speed is seen as a strength.
Mitchell may be able to take his spot because of his similar voice to that of seasoned Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
“Overall, Mitchell’s combination of size, athleticism, and route-running ability makes him an intriguing prospect,” Sanchez wrote in his conclusion. Mitchell seems to perform best in an offense that uses stacked alignments and pre-snap motion to offer him free releases into the defense.
Chiefs Analyst Offers a Different MVS-Like Wide Receiver at No. 32
The Chiefs should have a number of alternatives at selection No. 32 because this is another deep class of wide receivers in 2024. In the perfect situation, they may even trade up for a guy they truly love.
Charles Goldman, a media member of A-to-Z Sports, proposed Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin as a substitute pick in the first round on February 19.
The Chiefs must locate a serious danger at wide receiver if they expect Marquez Valdes-Scantling to be released because to salary cap issues, according to Goldman. “Oregon WR Troy Franklin is so much more than just a deep threat, as evidenced by his near-effortless acceleration and deep speed.”
“That is one of the comeback routes that Kansas City is best at, and they used a ton of them during the 2023 NFL season,” he clarified. “It’s pretty nice how [Franklin is] able to turn around and sink his hips as a ‘bigger’ wide receiver.” With the ball in his hands, Franklin is elusive; in 2023, he forced 14 missed tackles. That is equal to the combined number of forced missed tackles by Ladd McConkey and Marvin Harrison Jr.
Goldman acknowledged that Franklin needs to put on a little more muscle in order to perform at the NFL level.
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