The Kansas City Chiefs might be under more scrutiny this offseason than they’ve ever been in the Patrick Mahomes era. The state of his knee after a torn ACL last season, a dramatically overhauled defense, and a 6-11 record last year are all valid doubts.
But among the biggest concerns for the organization over the last few seasons have been the weapons at the two-time MVP’s disposal. This year, though, a legendary wide receiver believes they’ve finally found the playmaker the team had been looking for.
Patrick Mahomes May Have Found His Guy
When he first became a full-time starter, Mahomes had the lethal combination of Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce to throw the ball to. But over time, the Chiefs have parted ways with Hill, and Kelce is inching closer to retirement.
As a result, his numbers have taken a considerable hit, with his slew of wide receivers failing to stand out. Over the last two seasons, they haven’t had a single wideout inside the top-25 of PFN’s WR Impact Metric.
But those days might be coming to an end. Steve Smith Sr., who spent 16 seasons in the NFL and racked up five Pro Bowl selections during his time in the league, believes the Chiefs have found their guy in Cyrus Allen.
A fifth-round pick in the 2026 draft, Allen had a solid collegiate career, really showcasing his red zone props in his lone year with the Cincinnati Bearcats, recording 13 touchdowns on just 51 receptions.
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“Cyrus Allen is going to be, eventually, in my humble opinion, their number one wide receiver,” Smith said. “Here’s why. Their quarterback has been wanting a guy like Cyrus Allen, who has the ability to run in the intermediate. Xavier Worthy is right here, Rashee Rice is right here, and they got somebody in the middle that they need, and that’s Cyrus Allen.”
NFL Legend Steve Smith Sr. On #Chiefs rookie Cyrus Allen 🗣️
“Cyrus Allen is going to be eventually, in my humble opinion….their number one Wide Receiver.”
Via @SteveSmithSr89 pic.twitter.com/wqoznV9z9G
— SleeperChiefs (@SleeperChiefsKC) August 14, 2026
It remains to be seen if Allen can be the answer that Kansas City has been hoping for. Ever since training camp began, rave reviews have been coming in consistently about the rookie wide receiver.
But that remains a fairly common practice during training camp. A vote of confidence from a former Triple Crown winner like Smith carries a ton of weight and might inspire legit belief in what Allen can achieve.
It will be interesting to see if his role grows during his first season. With Rice, Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton viewed as the top three wideouts on the Chiefs, the expectation is that Allen will start as the WR4 on the team.
But if he is as good as advertised, then he could quickly move up the depth chart, especially with the major need that the team has at the wide receiver spot.
