Kansas City Chiefs must draft wide receiver in first round

It’s glaringly obvious what issues the Kansas City Chiefs need to address this offseason. There needs to be a complete overhaul in their wide receiving corps and they should utilize both free agency and the draft — even if they have to pay a little more or draft somebody hire than they should.

In free agency, the Chiefs will have incredible interest in the situation between Jeremy Maclin and the Philadelphia Eagles. If he becomes a free agent, then the team must do everything they can to haul him to Kansas City. Maclin is arguably the best wide receiver available in free agency.

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If the Chiefs can’t land Maclin, there’s plenty of other options. Torrey Smith could be a solid pickup if the Baltimore Ravens find him too expensive to keep. Reggie Wayne, Eddie Royal, and Michael Crabtree are all heading into free agency and won’t be a priority to be resigned by their previous teams. There’s also a possibility for Dez Bryant depending on what the controversial rumors surrounding him are.

Once Kansas City makes a move in free agency, they’ll also have to make a big decision in the draft. With the 18th pick, there could be a lot of good wide receivers already gone. The latest mock draft by Sports Illustrated has four receivers going in the top 15 (Kevin White, Amari Cooper, DeVante Parker, and Dorial Green-Beckham).

Unfortunately for the Chiefs, that’s the upper echelon of receiving prospects in the upcoming draft. Cooper was the main receiver at Alabama and finished second nationally in receiving yards (1,727) and touchdowns (16) to Colorado State’s Rashard Higgins, who was a sophomore.

White reeled in nearly 1,500 yards on 109 catches and had 10 touchdowns in his senior season with West Virginia. Parker is considered a slight downgrade from White with catching ability and speed, but still could be a number one receiver.

Dec 7, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham (15) catches a touchdown pass against Auburn Tigers defensive back Ryan Smith (24) during the second quarter of the 2013 SEC Championship game at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

There’s a chance that DGB will still be available, but he would be a gamble with his off-the-field issues. In the SI mock draft, they have the Chiefs pulling up Arizona State’s Jaelen Strong.

"Kansas City leads the league in its need for receiving help, and that deficit might result in Strong getting pushed slightly higher up the board than originally anticipated. At 6’2’’, 217, he’s another size-speed receiver with the potential to develop into a No. 1 target in the NFL."

Strong led the Sun Devils with 1,165 receiving yards (finished 15th nationally) on 82 catches with 10 touchdowns. He’s a great candidate that has experience and could make an immediate impact. It may be a little early for Strong, but he could be the best available at this time.

Devin Smith from Ohio State is another good candidate, but he lacks the potential to be a number one receiver out of the gate and is more tailor-made to home run throws. Sammie Coates from Auburn had problems holding onto the ball throughout the season last year. There’s enough marks on these players that will likely keep them until the second round. Unless a doomsday scenario unfolds when all five previously mentioned players are taken off the board, the Chiefs should stay away from them this early.

Whatever the ultimate case is for Kansas City, they must get a solid receiver in free agency and with their first pick in the draft. Quarterback Alex Smith is famously known for not throwing a touchdown pass to any wide receivers on the Chiefs last year, electing to throw toward their backs and tight ends. That must change if the team wants to be come a legitimate playoff contender.

Next: Chiefs made easy, but vital WR cuts

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