Chiefs sign first-round WR Xavier Worthy

Xavier Worthy.

Opting to downgrade in wide receiver talent upon trading Tyreek Hill in 2022, the Chiefs managed fine without the All-Pro weapon. The team is riding back-to-back Super Bowl wins. However, the wideout issues from last season clearly played a lead role in Kansas City’s 2024 offseason plan.

The team signed Marquise Brown to a one-year deal and further bolstered its receiving corps with a first-round trade-up for Texas’ Xavier Worthy. He of a Combine-record 4.21-second 40-yard dash, Worthy will be expected to infuse Kansas City’s passing game with a long-range upgrade. The Chiefs and Worthy moved past one offseason hurdle Wednesday, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reporting the sides have agreed to terms on the receiver’s rookie contract.

Worthy is now signed through the 2027 season, and the Chiefs have a fifth-year option on the player chosen 28th overall. The deal is fully guaranteed. Worthy is the first Round 1 wideout the Chiefs have chosen during Andy Reid‘s tenure and the franchise’s first since Jonathan Baldwin in 2011. Worthy will enter the NFL in a considerably better situation, having Reid calling the shots and Patrick Mahomestargeting him.

The former Longhorns standout generated interest from multiple teams. The Patriots made an effort to move up for Worthy; they are believed to have presented the Bills an offer for No. 28. The Chiefs’ offer to climb up from No. 32 clearly impressed the Bills more, as they were willing to move down to accommodate the team that has knocked them out of the playoffs in three of the past four seasons. Kansas City’s trade allowed Buffalo to jump up 38 spots (to No. 95) and move up in Round 7 as well. While many have questioned the Bills for allowing this, the perennial AFC East champs clearly did not have Worthy too high on their board. However, Worthy’s progress in Missouri will spotlight the Bills’ choice.

Worthy’s size likely presented an issue for some teams; he checked in at 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds. The 4.21 talent did not operate purely as a downfield producer with the Longhorns, though it will be interesting to see how his frame translates to the NFL. The Chiefs are banking on the coach that drafted DeSean Jackson 16 years ago boosting Worthy, as both the team’s top WR acquisitions are diminutive targets; Brown goes 5-9, 180.

Worthy brings both a strong body of work and an explosive final college season. Last year, the Texas speedster caught 75 passes for 1,014 yards and five touchdowns. That was Worthy’s only 1,000-yard season, but he topped 750 in both his other college campaigns and combined for 21 TDs from 2021-22. Texas saw its top two receivers drafted in the first two rounds, with Adonai Mitchell going off the board in Round 2 (Colts). Worthy led the CFP semifinalist in yardage, while Mitchell paced the Big 12 in receiving TDs.

Although the Chiefs prevailed in Super Bowl LVIII, they dealt with inconsistency at WR throughout 2023. Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (playoff contributions aside) proved largely unreliable. Toney remains in the team’s plans, though it is unclear for how much longer, while Rashee Rice — the team’s lead WR last season — is headed for a likely suspension. A Rice ban would put more pressure on the Chiefs’ new wideouts to pick up the slack during the upcoming three-peat effort.

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