The Kansas City Chiefs signed some good players in free agency, and with most notable players already signed, it’s officially mock draft season. The Chiefs are going for the first three-peat in NFL history, and they made some encouraging moves to bring home a title in 2024. The team brought back defensive tackle Chris Jones and signed Marquise Brown to a team-friendly one-year deal. Their biggest loss was in the secondary, as Kansas City traded L’Jarius Sneed for a minimal return.
With Sneed gone, cornerback is probably the biggest need on the roster. Trent McDuffie is fantastic, but the Chiefs could use another defensive back. However, drafting for need is a dangerous game, and sometimes the best defense is a good offense. In Chad Reuter’s latest mock draft, the Chiefs trade up with the Los Angeles Rams to select Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy.
Chiefs Trade Up For Xavier Worthy In Latest Mock Draft
Xavier Worthy the Prospect
At the end of the day, the draft is all about adding talented players, and Xavier Worthy is a talented player. The first thing that jumps off the page with Worthy is his game-breaking speed. The Texas product set the record for the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL history, which shows that he has the potential to take it to the house every time he touches the ball.
John Ross previously held the record for the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL history, and the wide receiver used that speed to become a top-10 selection. Ultimately, he didn’t work out, as the receiver wasn’t able to do anything other than run in a straight line. This shouldn’t be a concern with Worthy, as the film shows a well-rounded player who has the footwork and lateral agility to run routes at an above-average level.
Xavier Worthy’s testing is awesome.
As we know, the film matters more. This is not just a track athlete. This is a football player and a playmaker. Some highlights here: pic.twitter.com/0KPJaRMuXk
— Ben Cummins (@BenCumminsFF) March 2, 2024
Despite the high points, there are a few reasons the Chiefs can get Worthy with the 19th pick in this mock draft. The wide receiver is notably undersized, measuring in at just 6′-1″ and 172 pounds. In terms of raw athleticism, guys like Adonai Mitchell have a better RAS score, which adjusts for the overall build of a player. This lack of size shows up in contested situations – if he’s not open by two steps, you can’t throw him the ball.
Is He A Good Pick In the Chiefs Mock Draft?
There is only one Tyreek Hill, and nobody should Xavier Worthy (or any other receiver, for that matter) to match his production. However, Worthy has the speed to play Hill’s role as the deep threat in the Chiefs offense. While Marquise Brown can handle that job in the short term, Worthy has the potential to be the long-term answer, which is why this Chiefs mock draft makes a little bit of sense.
The biggest question mark in this mock draft is the Chiefs trade itself. Anything can happen on the day of the 2024 NFL Draft, but as of this posting, most expect Worthy to go off the board at the back of the first round or even early in the second round. Per the DraftTek value chart, the Chiefs would probably need to give up their second-round pick for the right to move up to the 19th overall pick.
Worthy is the fourth receiver off the board in Reuter’s mock draft, which means the Chiefs pass on guys like Brian Thomas and Adonai Mitchell for his services. For what it’s worth, Mitchell is not a first-round pick in this draft, so can Kansas City justify giving up a first- and second-round pick for Worthy when a similar player would be sitting there at 32?
Main Photo: Aaron E. Martinez – USA Today Sports
