I saw the Chiefs plugging in multiple WRs after Thornton got hurt last game. Some probably won’t perform, like Brian Thomas Jr., Michael Wilson and Jaylin Noel. Some I’d rather avoid due to lack of needle movement/consistency are Jerry Jeudy (who knows, maybe he could do better in our offense), Adonai Mitchell (preliminary reports and lack of availability since drafting), and Keon Coleman (lots of different reports and I don’t think the Bills would trade him to us anyway). With all of this in mind, I started thinking about WRs who meet the following criteria (let me know if I missed any important criteria):
Veteran presence (at least 3 years of NFL starting experience or considered an incredibly cerebral player)
On a losing team (expected to be out of contention around the trade deadline) and/or is buried behind several other receivers in a loaded room
Cheaper contract (a bit equal to 10 million AAV or less)
Not primarily a slot WR role (although Andy Reid has made it work in the past)
What I got from these criteria (with the help of Gemini sometimes, lol) were the following options:
John Metchie III (Carolina, Road Racing Highlights, Z/X/PR Role)
I’ve really liked John Metchie since college, but he’s fought a few different things in his adult life. He is considered a high character/locker room guy who can fill some of the role the Chiefs need. He also seems to be improving this year, compared to his previous seasons. We could probably do a late round pick trade for him and his contract is very affordable. He is 26 years old and considered a player studying the game.
Tutu Atwell (Rams, deep threat/field stretcher, Z/X/PR role?)
Talk about buried on a list. Atwell’s usage has really declined this year and, to be fair, he’s had some dropping issues. However, he is 27 years old and on a cheap contract. This would also be a late-round draft trade and Atwell showed he can stretch the field with great speed. He could step in and fill a simple role in the Chiefs offense early on. He could be a guy we keep next year on a cheap contract (under 5 million per year) and could improve the depth of the WR room.
Who knows if either of these guys would be a better option than the depth we currently have in the room (Royals, Allen, Watson), but if the Chiefs are also interested in adding some more younger depth for future seasons, I think these two players aren’t a bad start.
Gn sports
