Misleading Narratives Should Not Deter Chiefs Drafting Offensive Weapons

Despite having Patrick Mahomes under center, the Kansas City Chiefs' offense has been pedestrian for three years. That should not be the case with the 30-year-old quarterback part of the equation.

Wide receiver is a position the Chiefs could address with the ninth-overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. While there are other positions that need to be prioritized, such as edge rusher and cornerback, Kansas City could end up taking a pass-catching option with its top-10 selection.

Oct 7, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates with wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) after Worthy’s touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

When assessing the Chiefs' wide receiver corps heading into this month's draft, it is definitely a work in progress. Additionally, one statistic illustrated why Kansas City needs to consider a receiver at some point inside the top 40 with one of their three picks in that range.

That stat is Mahomes' passer rating when targeting specific pass catchers. Here is a closer look at how last season looked for the passing offense.

Mahomes' Passer Rating When Targeting Specific Receiver

Passer rating when targeted the last two seasons.

Rashee Rice | 111.6
JuJu Smith-Schuster | 97.7
Travis Kelce | 93.1
Hollywood Brown | 90.8
Xavier Worthy | 86.7#ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/nk0sbeJ4ND
— SleeperChiefs (@SleeperChiefsKC) March 31, 2026

This may be confusing, considering that Mahomes' passer rating when targeting these specific pass-catching options is relatively healthy. However, there is another angle that needs to be taken with these numbers.

Closer Look

Nov 27, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrate after a play against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Let's start with Rice. Obviously, anything over 100 is elite, but the problem with the 25-year-old receiver is that he is sparingly available due to a multitude of factors. Rice is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is unlikely to be in Kansas City past 2026.

Meanwhile, Smith-Schuster and Brown are both middling receivers at this point in their respective careers. Brown signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, while Smith-Schuster is still a free agent. Then, there is Kelce, who is returning for his 14th season after re-signing with Kansas City this offseason. At 36 years old, Kelce cannot be one of the top options in the passing game, as this metric indicates.

Sep 5, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) celebrates with wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) after a touchdown agains the Baltimore Ravens during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Lastly, Mahomes' passer rating dipped considerably when targeting Worthy, which is a disappointing development, as the Chiefs invested a 2024 first-round pick on the Texas product. Now, this could be misleading, as Worthy is a downfield threat, and those pass attempts have a lower probability of connecting. However, the 22-year-old receiver has yet to demonstrate that he can operate consistently at all three levels of the field.

With Rice entering a contract year, Kelce's future after 2026 uncertain, and Worthy's methodical development, one of Kansas City's top-three picks needs to be utilized on a receiver.