Five Potential KC Chiefs 2024 NFL Draft WR Targets Who Boosted Stock at Combine
While free agency is quickly approaching for veteran players, it's also the time of year to focus on those who will get picked in the 2024 NFL Draft. For the Kansas City Chiefs, the wide receiver position figures to be a possible point of emphasis.
Over the next handful of weeks, general manager Brett Veach and company will put the finishing touches on their preparations for the draft. Luckily for them, this year's wideout class is one of the best in recent memory. It's a perfect year to need a pass catcher, further evidenced by some terrific performances at the annual NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Which members of this year's receiver crop boosted their stock and stood out the most? Let's take a look at a handful of potential Chiefs targets who had promising showings under the bright lights at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Adonai Mitchell - Texas
Texas wideout Adonai Mitchell came into the Combine with plenty to prove. While he managed to break out as a junior, many were eager to see how he tested and whether it would make or break his status as a possible first-round pick. Mitchell quieted his doubters and then some, running a 4.34-second 40-yard dash and posting one of the best Relative Athletic Scores (RAS) of all 2024 receivers. Mitchell's 39.5" vertical jump and 11'4" broad jump also turned quite a few heads. The 21-year-old is a good athlete who glides around the field, uses tempo with excellence, has very reliable hands and is a ball-winner. He's a likely first-rounder now.
Xavier Worthy - Texas
Speaking of probable first-round receivers from Texas, no one drew more attention than Xavier Worthy when he ran a blazing 4.21-second 40-yard dash. That NFL Combine record figure surely did more than enough to see him shoot up some draft boards. Worthy accompanied his 10-yard split and 40 time with a 41" vertical jump and 10'11" broad jump, both great marks. Worthy's profile will play well as a burner at the next level who can track the ball well, use space to his advantage and even return punts if needed. The downside is he weighs just 165 pounds and may never be the true and traditional "alpha" of an NFL offense.
Ladd McConkey - Georgia
While not elite, Ladd McConkey's Combine performance helped his pre-draft profile. The Georgia product's measurements — 5'11", 186 pounds — were as expected, but a 4.39-second 40 time and 36" vertical jump doubled down on his above-average athleticism. McConkey absolutely crushed the "gauntlet" receiver drill and looks the part of a professional wideout. He projects as a late pick in the first round and someone who is a savvy route runner, wastes very little movement and could jump in as a slot weapon on day one as a rookie.
Brian Thomas Jr. - LSU
Before the Combine, most knew that LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. was an athletic specimen. After he posted a near-perfect RAS score, though, he still shocked some folks. With elite speed (4.33 40-yard dash time) and explosion grades (38.5" vert, 10'6" broad jump) all coming from a 6'2", 209-pound frame, Thomas is a prototypical "X" receiver. He's a potentially tantalizing jump-ball and/or deep threat with nice stop-start ability and yards-after-catch upside. Thomas, while a bit rough around the edges in this writer's opinion, very well may come off the board around the midpoint of round one.
Ricky Pearsall - Florida
Florida's Ricky Pearsall may be an older prospect who experienced a late breakout, but don't let that turn you away. He shined at the Combine, running a 4.41-second 40 with a scary 42" vertical jump and a 6.64-second three-come time. Pearsall's selling points are his tremendous hands, plus ball-tracking and adjustments and his ability to win against zone coverage. Unlike those listed before him, even with this recent stock bump from Indianapolis, he's still a prime Day Two draft target for a team like the Chiefs.
Honorable mention: Malik Washington - Virginia
Standing at 5'8" and weighing just 191 pounds, it's easy to see Malik Washington's measurables and not love his prospect profile. With that said, a quick look at him on the field will make his compact build obvious. Washington forces a ton of missed tackles, is excellent with the ball in his hands and can also return kicks. He needs to advance in his proficiency down the field but after running a sub-4.5-second 40 and leaping 42.5" high in the vertical jump, he's someone to keep an eye on. He's likely a late Day Two or early Day Three target.
