The Kansas City Chiefs don’t have a quarterback problem, a coaching problem, or even a scheme problem. They’ve still got Patrick Mahomes doing things that make defensive coordinators age in real time.
But the wide receiver room? That’s where the edges get a little frayed.
The Biggest Roster Hole
Aaron Schatz of ESPN sizes up the biggest roster holes for each NFL team going into the new season in a Thursday, May 7 feature.
For the Chiefs, he picks wide receiver.
“The performance of the Chiefs’ wide receivers, according to ESPN’s receiver scores last season, were significantly bad,” he says. “Rashee Rice is generally believed to be one of the league’s top slot receivers, but he scored just a 49 out of 100 in an off season. Tyquan Thornton had a 36 and Xaiver Worthy just a 25.”
He adds: “The top player behind these three receivers is 2025 fourth-round pick Jalen Royals, who had just two catches in his rookie season for 4 yards. The Chiefs also have return specialist Nikko Remigio and fifth-round rookie Cyrus Allen. They really must add a veteran free agent here.”
Start with the numbers from last season. According to ESPN’s receiver grading, it wasn’t pretty. Rashee Rice—who’s widely viewed as the most reliable piece in the group—still landed at a 49 out of 100 in what was already a down year. That’s your best case scenario, not your problem child.
Then it drops off quickly. Tyquan Thornton posted a 36. Xavier Worthy came in at 25. At that point, you’re not grading impact—you’re grading survival.
Behind them, there’s not much to lean on. Fourth-round rookie Jalen Royals barely got a foot in the door last season with just two catches for four yards. That’s not development yet. That’s still introduction.
Add in return specialist Nikko Remigio and fifth-round rookie Cyrus Allen, and the picture doesn’t really change—it just gets younger and thinner.
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And that’s the uncomfortable part for Kansas City. The system still works because Mahomes makes it work. But at some point, “he’ll figure it out” stops being a sustainable roster plan and starts being a weekly gamble.
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This is where veteran help stops being a luxury and starts feeling like a correction. Not a star signing. Just someone who understands leverage, timing, and how to be where the ball is supposed to go without needing a play drawn up specifically for survival mode.
Because right now, the Chiefs don’t need more upside talk. They need reliability. Someone who can win a route when the design breaks down—and in Kansas City, that moment always shows up eventually.