Kansas City Chiefs: Can Mitch Mathews make the roster?
Though the Kansas City Chiefs lone sure-fire starter at the wide receiver position is Jeremy Maclin, they have many bodies competing for a roster spot.
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Albert Wilson, Chris Conley, Rod Streater, Demarcus Robinson, De’Anthony Thomas, and Tyreek Hill are the biggest names on the Kansas City Chiefs behind Maclin on the WR depth chart, but there are others looking to make their mark this offseason. Former New Orleans Saints wideout Seantavius Jones lurks, Frankie Hammond is there, and undrafted free agent rookie Mitch Mathews could have his say, too.
Robinson and Hill are the main rookies in town, but Mathews is a player with intriguing tools. Maybe he’s too much of a deep threat to fit what Alex Smith does on offense, but no receiver on the Chiefs can touch his 6’5″, 222-pound frame.
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Mathews is already 25, per his profile on ESPN.com, since he served a mission, but the former BYU star redeems what could be a capped ceiling with great tools. He lit up his pro day with a 4.49 forty and a 36-inch vertical, both impressive marks for a 6’5″ wide receiver.
Strong at the catch point and one of the best athletes in the class, Mathews likely didn’t hear his name called solely because of his age. He caught 11 touchdown passes last season for the Cougars, and he showed off both his size and speed when on the field.
It’s hard to forget that Mathews is an inexperienced route-runner at an advanced age, and he only made waves at his pro day for his speed and athleticism, not necessarily his quickness or burst. Those are the traits that seem to work best for players in the Chiefs offense, which is based around Smith’s accuracy and decision-making, as opposed to his ability to deliver it to outside weapons.
Moreover, the Chiefs have a 6’3″ beast with a 45-inch vertical in Chris Conley, who was more touted coming out of the draft, is younger, played in the offense last season, and is faster and more athletic.
On the bright side, Mathews isn’t really competing directly with Conley for a spot, but he will have to show that he fits the Chiefs offense well enough immediately in order to beat the rest of the crowd. At 25 and only an undrafted free agent, the Chiefs owe him absolutely nothing in the form of time to develop, so he must make an early impression.
For as skeptical as we must be about a UDFA receiver who is on the old side, Mathews’s speed for his size is simply remarkable. As his 11 TD receptions last season can attest, the man is a bully, and there could be a place for that in the Chiefs offense. Just ask Smith to throw it up there, perhaps in the red zone if Travis Kelce is occupied by the defense, and Mathews can come down with the catch.
"I think that Mitch Mathews will be a practice squad guy so he can develop. I would be floored if he was released" @criddler21
— ESPN 960 (@espn960sports) June 21, 2016
There’s buzz around Mathews, and it is interesting to see that at least one person sees him as a practice squad guy. He may seem too old for that designation, but even the Chiefs could afford to let a player with his unique measurables to sit for one year. If they waive him to the practice squad, there’s a chance someone else could claim him, but I’m not sure another team will risk immediately signing him to their roster without having seen him in training camp.
The common perception of the Chiefs offense would lead us to believe that Mathews could have been given better odds of cracking a roster elsewhere, but even though he profiles as a deep threat who takes time to get open, K.C. can still use him.
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His speed isn’t his only tool worth using, because, again, he knows how to use his body to beat defensive backs. Plus, I always like to say that even Smith can hit a deep pass every now and then, and it’s not like Mathews would figure to be a huge part of the offense if he does make the roster.
A few draftniks and Chiefs fans have been buzzing about the man nicknamed “Too Tall”, so he is one undrafted sleeper to watch at the wide receiver position.