The Kansas City Chiefs’ Achilles’ heel in 2024 was their wide receiver room. Injuries to key starters at the position kept the offense from reaching its full potential. From 2023 to 2024, their total yards per game dropped from 351 (8th in the NFL) to 327.7 (16th), and their passing yards per game fell from 261.4 (6th) to 222.4 (14th).
While Patrick Mahomes still played at an elite level, he was forced to adjust his game and had fewer opportunities to push the ball downfield.
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown missed all but two regular season games, and Rashee Rice played in just four before suffering a freak knee injury—getting rolled up on during an interception return in which Mahomes was involved in the tackle.
Given those setbacks, the Chiefs were widely expected to target a wide receiver in the draft, and eventually, they did — drafting Jalen Royals in the 4th round.
What Can the Chiefs’ Receivers Really Deliver in 2025?
The Chiefs receivers could bounce back in a big way. They are a fast, shifty, explosive group that can all make catches in traffic. They are deadly.
Royals, the 6-foot, 205-pound receiver, led the Aggies with 55 catches for 831 yards (15.2 YPC) and 7 touchdowns. He started seven games before a foot injury cut his season short. Royals brings decent size, strong body control, and a well-developed route tree. His biggest strength? Making tough catches in traffic—something that pairs perfectly with Mahomes’ ability to thread tight windows.
Rashee Rice was emerging as one of Mahomes’ most trusted targets. After a standout rookie campaign in 2023 (79 receptions, 938 yards, 7 TDs), he was off to a hot start in 2024 with 24 catches for 288 yards and two scores before a season-ending injury. When healthy, he plays like a true WR1.
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is a pure deep threat who can take the top off a defense. He’s averaged 63 receptions for 729 yards per season with 28 career touchdowns, and he’s still one of the league’s most dangerous vertical options.
Xavier Worthy, another recent draft gem, joins Rice as a future cornerstone. In his rookie year, he recorded 59 receptions, 638 yards, and 6 TDs. With elite speed and another year of development, Worthy is poised to become a nightmare matchup, especially against zone coverage.
Skyy Moore and Mecole Hardman round out the group. Both bring serious burst and quickness off the snap. Though both dealt with knee issues, they’re capable of stretching the field when healthy. Hardman also contributes on special teams as a dynamic punt returner.
The elephant in the room with this group is, once again, health. Rice and Brown suffered freak injuries—Brown’s coming on the first play of training camp. That’s just bad luck. But if this group can stay healthy, the Chiefs have every reason to believe they can top their 2023 offensive production.
A fully armed Mahomes? That should terrify the rest of the NFL.
