The Kansas City Chiefs are about to kick off training camp, and as they prepare for their annual journey to St. Joseph, we’re diving into an analysis of each position group on the roster.
Here’s what we’ve covered so far: QB | RB | TE | LB | OL | DL
Next up is the wide receiver group, which currently consists of 13 players. We’ll break them down alphabetically by veterans, draft picks, and rookie free agents.
Veterans
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown
Brown, one of the Chiefs’ key offseason additions, signed with Kansas City in late March. Last season with Arizona, he caught 51 passes for 574 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games, despite missing his starting quarterback, Kyler Murray, for most of the season. In the previous year, he led Arizona with 67 receptions for 709 yards and three touchdowns.
Over his two years with the Cardinals, Brown amassed 118 receptions for 1,283 yards and seven touchdowns in 26 games, leading the team in all three categories. Before Arizona, Brown was a first-round pick for the Baltimore Ravens, where he recorded 195 catches for 2,361 yards and 21 touchdowns in 46 games from 2019 to 2021. This was despite playing in a Ravens offense that ranked 30th in net passing yards-per-game during his tenure.
Mecole Hardman
Hardman returns to Kansas City for his sixth season after re-signing with the Chiefs in early June. Initially a second-round pick in 2019, Hardman caught 151 passes for 2,088 yards and 16 touchdowns in his first four seasons. He briefly joined the New York Jets as a free agent last year, but the Chiefs reacquired him mid-season. Hardman recorded 14 catches for 118 yards in six regular-season games and secured the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII.
Skyy Moore
The No. 54 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Moore heads into his third season with Kansas City after catching 21 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown in 2023. His standout performance came in Week 2 against Jacksonville, where he caught a touchdown pass and made a crucial 54-yard catch. Moore has 43 receptions for 494 yards and one touchdown in 30 regular-season games, along with a 4-yard touchdown in Super Bowl LVII. He missed the final three games of last season due to a knee injury but is now healthy for camp.
Cornell Powell
Powell returns after spending last season on the practice squad. The former fifth-round pick has been with the Chiefs for three seasons, appearing in three games in 2022 and consistently contributing on the practice squad.
Nikko Remigio
An undrafted free agent last offseason, Remigio had a promising training camp cut short by a shoulder injury. Before joining the Chiefs, he was a key player at the University of California and Fresno State. Now healthy, Remigio stood out during offseason practices and aims to build on that success in camp.
Rashee Rice
Rice emerged as a top playmaker last season, with 79 catches for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. His 44 first-down catches ranked second on the team, and his 669 yards after the catch were third among all players. Rice set an NFL rookie record with 26 playoff catches, including a crucial reception in Super Bowl LVIII.
Justyn Ross
An undrafted free agent in 2022, Ross made the team last summer and played in 10 games, catching six passes for 53 yards. At Clemson, he was a star freshman but faced injuries that impacted his career. Despite setbacks, Ross has a chance to prove himself again this summer.
Kadarius Toney
Acquired from the New York Giants in 2022, Toney caught 27 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown in 13 games last season. Knee and hip injuries limited his time, but now healthy, Toney has an opportunity to secure a role for the 2024 season.
Montrell Washington
Washington rejoined the Chiefs as a “Reserve/Future” signee in mid-February after playing primarily as a return man in six games last season. Before Kansas City, he was a fifth-round pick for the Broncos, appearing in 15 games in 2022.
Justin Watson
Watson had a career-best season last year, with 27 catches for 460 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games. His consistent production ranked him third on the team in receiving yards.
Draft Picks
Xavier Worthy
The Chiefs drafted Worthy 28th overall in 2024 after he posted career-bests at Texas with 75 catches for 1,014 yards and five touchdowns. Worthy’s speed, evidenced by his 4.21-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, makes him a valuable asset.
Undrafted Free Agent Signees
Phillip Brooks
Brooks, from nearby Lee’s Summit, signed as an undrafted free agent after three productive seasons at K-State. He set career-highs with 53 catches for 589 yards and five touchdowns in 2023.
Jaaron Hayek
Hayek earned his contract after a successful rookie minicamp tryout. The Villanova standout caught 170 passes for 2,744 yards and 29 touchdowns over five seasons.
The Bottom Line
Last year, the Chiefs surprised many by keeping seven wide receivers for Week 1, up from five in 2022 and six in 2021 and 2020. For 2024, it’s likely they will keep five to six receivers. Brown, Rice, Worthy, and Watson are strong candidates, leaving one to three spots for the remaining nine players. This competition will be a key storyline throughout camp.