The Kansas City Chiefs made a trade to choose Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy with the 28th pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night. This move adds a speedy deep threat to the team, something they haven’t had since Tyreek Hill played for them.
Initially, the Chiefs were supposed to pick last in the first round after winning their second consecutive Super Bowl and third in five years. However, they traded up with one of their biggest AFC rivals, the Buffalo Bills.
In exchange for the 28th pick, the Chiefs sent the 32nd pick, along with a fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick, to the Bills.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid expressed his satisfaction with their current wide receivers but acknowledged the importance of adding someone like Worthy to strengthen the team.
Mahomes, who was at a gala in New York, quickly showed his approval of the pick on social media. Reid mentioned that Mahomes is always eager about such decisions and enjoys keeping up with the draft, whether it’s about offense or defense.
Worthy set a new NFL combine record with his lightning-fast 4.21-second 40-yard dash, reminding Kansas City of the speed they had when Hill played for them.
But Worthy isn’t just about speed; he’s also shown improvement in his route running and reduced the number of dropped passes last season. During that time, he caught 75 passes for 1,014 yards and five touchdowns.
Reid mentioned the value of having speed down the field, although the Chiefs have done well without it before. However, when an opportunity arises to acquire a talented player, it’s wise to take advantage of it.
Even though the Chiefs won the Super Bowl last year with a makeshift wide receiver group, they were already looking for help even before Rashee Rice, their standout player from last season, encountered legal issues in Texas.
According to Dallas police, Rice was allegedly speeding in a Lamborghini, leading to a crash that injured several people. Rice left the scene and turned himself in later when warrants were issued for his arrest.
While Rice has been released on bond and is participating in the Chiefs’ offseason program, the team must be prepared for the possibility of him missing part or all of the upcoming season due to his legal situation. This is crucial as they aim to make history by winning three consecutive Super Bowls.
“It’s all about the quarterbacks and speed,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said. “The more speed you have, the tougher it is for defenses to figure out what you’re going to do.”
The Chiefs added Hollywood Brown in free agency, and tight end Travis Kelce has been as good as any wide receiver. But besides them, the Chiefs didn’t have much in terms of receivers, with players like Justin Watson, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, and Montrell Washington.
So, trading for Worthy wasn’t a shock. But the fact that the Bills were willing to make a deal caught some attention.
The Chiefs have often ended their seasons in the playoffs. In 2017, they made a significant trade with the Bills, sending them several picks to move up and select Mahomes, which changed the team’s direction entirely.
“Everyone has their plan,” Veach said. “They did what made sense to them, and we did what made sense to us.”
