It is far from a secret that the Kansas City Chiefs struggled to get consistent production out of their receiving corps last season. Quarterback Alex Smith often preferred to throw to running back Jamaal Charles and tight end Travis Kelce as the Chiefs’ wide receivers struggled to get open all season long.
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The corps, led by Dwyane Bowe, was the least productive in the entire NFL, forcing the Chiefs to make some major improvements this off season. Bringing in Jeremy Maclin to replace Bowe was an incredible move by the organization, as Maclin gives them a legitimate number one receiver to build around.
Getting open is not a problem for Maclin, as he uses his incredible combination of speed, quickness and route running ability to get open with regularity. Maclin is a rare-kind of receiver who can do anything you need. He excels in the short passing game, on intermediate routes and when going deep. He truly is the complete package at the WR position.
Nov 2, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (18) scores a touchdown past Houston Texans defensive back Andre Hal (29) during the game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Building around Maclin is wise, but it is fair to question the receivers surrounding him. At this point, the favorite to start at WR opposite of Maclin would be Albert Wilson, who really came on down the stretch for the Chiefs last season. Wilson is under-sized (5-foot-9, 200 pounds), but he has a ton of speed and quickness, and freakish strength for a man of his size.
Wilson was the only Chiefs’ receiver who showed consistent ability to get open last season. When the Chiefs finally gave Wilson an opportunity late in the year, defenses seemed willing to defend Wilson man-to-man, and he made them pay simply by running by them. With his impressive strength, Wilson will be very tough to press at the line of scrimmage and his speed and quickness will give him a chance to make plays all over the field.
His skills are certainly raw, so there is some downside here, but Wilson is an exciting player who can make a difference for the Chiefs.
Wilson’s number one competition will be rookie Chris Conley, who the Chiefs traded up for in the third round of the draft. While his production was inconsistent in college, Conley has an impressive combination of size (6-foot-3, 205 pounds with incredible length), speed and raw athleticism that gives him massive upside at the NFL level.
Sep 27, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Chris Conley (31) runs after a catch against the Tennessee Volunteers defense during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Conley is a legitimate deep threat, who can certainly make some noise as a rookie. His combination of raw skills are at least as good as any receiver on the roster, even Maclin. The issue with Conley was his tendency to disappear on-the-field in college.
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Conley is a match-up nightmare whose skills rival the best athletes in the entire NFL. Why did he struggle to dominate against college competition? There were times when Conley looked like an absolute star, but those times were few and far between. At the NFL level, Conley is going to have to work to stay relevant and put up consistent production.
He has a ton of pure skills that will certainly make him an interesting option for the Chiefs in the passing game. There is nobody holding Conley back from the starting job. If he steps and impresses in training camp, the job will be his to lose.
Veteran Jason Avant is another player who could theoretically become the Chiefs’ starter opposite of Maclin. A ten-year veteran, Avant has made a decent career out of being a big and strong bodied receiver. He has very little speed and separation skills, but Avant is not going to kill you at the position.
If some of the more exciting players fall on their face in this opportunity, Avant is a decent guy to have just in case. If he is the Chiefs’ starting receiver Week 1, something went wrong, but he would be solid at the position.
Junior Hemingway and Frankie Hammond deserve mention as well, but neither player is a true threat to land the starting job. De’Anthony Thomas is reportedly working out as a wide receiver, but his role will probably be limited to the slot. Thomas can be a huge weapon for the Chiefs out of the slot, but he is not a real threat to start.
This position battle comes down to Wilson versus Conley, with Avant being a decent option if both candidates fall flat on their face. It will be very interesting to see which player steps up and grabs this position for the taking. Let the competition begin!
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