Chiefs Studios Features: Patrick Mahomes and Xavier Worthy make for exciting new duo

Taylor Bell - Chiefs Studios

Chiefs headlines for Monday, April 29

Patrick Mahomes and Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs

Who decided that it was a good idea to let the KC Chiefs pair Patrick Mahomes with the fastest player in the history of the combine? The Buffalo Bills, apparently, as Buffalo traded down so that Kansas City could take Texas’ Xavier Worthy with the 28th pick.

Mahomes can buy time in the pocket and make huge plays down the field as well as any quarterback in the history of the game. Now, he’ll be chucking passes to an undersized (5’11”, 165 lbs) but blazing-fast (4.41-second 40-yard dash) receiver.

However, it’s not just Worthy’s deep-threat ability that makes this a potentially dominant QB-WR pairing. The rookie’s speed can yield separation and after-the-catch opportunities on slants, digs and screens, making it even more difficult for opposing defenses to contain wideout Marquise Brown, tight end Travis Kelce and running back Isiah Pacheco.

Worthy isn’t the same player as former Chiefs speedster Tyreek Hill, but he’ll bring a lot of the same elements to the offense.

“It’s a speed game, and the more speed you have on the field, the harder it is for defenses to take away different elements of the game,” general manager Brett Veach said, per ESPN’s Adam Teicher.

Mahomes’ skill set will make Worthy an instant difference-maker, while the rookie’s speed and versatility will help make football’s best quarterback even more dangerous in and out of the pocket.

Debrief: 32 thoughts for 32 teams after the 2024 NFL Draft | NFL.com

Kansas City Chiefs

Xavier Worthy (No. 28 overall) has more to his game than straight-line speed. He was the true No. 1 wideout in Texas, over Adonai Mitchell, and he has more of an ability to make people miss with quickness and route running than most “track stars” typically do. When I watched Worthy before the draft, I thought that he’d absolutely ball out if he somehow landed with the Dolphins or the Chiefs. Yup.

Prisco’s NFL Draft 2024 grades for all 32 teams, including best and worst picks: Commanders receive only A+ | CBS Sports

Kansas City Chiefs: A

Best Pick: I picked two because they drafted two of my Better-Than team members in the fourth round. They took tight end Jared Wiley and safety Jaden Hicks to add depth at two positions early in their careers and then they will be starters in a few.

Worst Pick: I heard they really liked tackle Kingsley Suamataia from BYU, but I wasn’t as high on him as others. He does fill a need and they didn’t have to take him until the second, even though it was rumored he could go in the first.

The Skinny: The Chiefs had a good draft. They traded up to get receiver Xavier Worthy in the first, then did the same to take Suamataia in the second. Worthy will be a game changer for Patrick Mahomes. Taking two of my Better-Than team players makes this grade go up.

2024 NFL draft grades: Ranking every team’s class from best to worst | USA Today

16. Kansas City Chiefs (B)

Perhaps the anti-Jets, taking the superfluous receiver (Texas blazer Xavier Worthy) in Round 1 before the offensive lineman (BYU OT Kingsley Suamataia) they arguably should have prioritized in Round 2? And, again, maybe the league’s new dynasty shouldn’t be questioned – Worthy’s 4.21 speed added to free agent signing Hollywood Brown, and what they could mean to an offense triggered by three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes … assuming the three-time Super Bowl MVP remains upright behind whoever’s guarding his blind side.

2024 NFL Draft grades: Analyzing all 32 teams’ classes; Who gets top marks? | FOX Sports

Kansas City Chiefs

Boasting an elite defense, the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs entered this draft season needing to get more help for Patrick Mahomes on the offensive side of the ball, especially in the wake of Rashee Rice’s legal troubles. They did so in a big way (and Mahomes showed his gratitude to general manager Brett Veach on social media). They added a weapon in Xavier Worthy whose 4.21-second 40-yard dash set an NFL Combine record. That speed figures to be lethal with Mahomes. Kansas City’s top three picks were on offense. —Arthur

Grade: A-

2024 NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams | PFF

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: B+

1 (28): WR Xavier Worthy, Texas

2 (63): T Kingsley Suamataia, BYU

4 (131): TE Jared Wiley, TCU

4 (133): S Jaden Hicks, Washington State

5 (159): C Hunter Nourzad, Penn State

6 (211): CB Kamal Hadden, Tennessee

7 (248): G C.J. Hanson, Holy Cross

Worthy — Kansas City trades up to select the fastest player in combine history. Worthy, owner of the 4.21-second 40-yard dash, gives Patrick Mahomes the most explosive outside threat he’s had since the departure of Tyreek Hill. However, However, Worthy earned PFF receiving grades in the low 70s in each of the last two years, and there are concerns about his 172-pound frame. It’s a gamble by a Chiefs organization looking to make their offense more aggressive.

Suamataia — The Chiefs trade up one spot to select Suamataia, who could be their new starting left tackle. Suamataia has experience on both sides of the line. He posted an 80.9 PFF pass-blocking grade on the right side in 2022 and an 86.1 PFF pass-blocking grade on the left side in 2023. Protecting Patrick Mahomes is a top priority, and Suamataia can help that cause.

Beat writers’ favorite 2024 NFL Draft picks: Keon Coleman, Laiatu Latu and 30 more players | The Athletic

Kansas City Chiefs: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU

The easy answer is wide receiver Xavier Worthy because of the allure of his rare speed. But I’m going with Suamataia, who has the potential to become the Chiefs’ long-term solution at left tackle, the player responsible for protecting Patrick Mahomes’ blind side. Suamataia has above-average athleticism, is one of the youngest prospects in the draft (age 21) and could develop into one of the league’s best tackles during Mahomes’ prime years. The Chiefs loved Suamataia the moment they met him and Chiefs fans could grow to appreciate his energetic personality and nimble play style.

Around the NFL

Falcons’ Morris backs Cousins - No QB controversy with Penix | ESPN

The Falcons selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. of Washington with the No. 8 pick Thursday night. The choice sent shockwaves across the NFL since Atlanta had just signed Cousins as a free agent last month to a four-year contract worth up to $180 million, with $100 million of that guaranteed.

At the Falcons’ post-draft media availability Saturday, Morris halted any quarterback controversy.

“We came up with a decision, this is what we plan to do,” said Morris, who was hired in January after the firing of former coach Arthur Smith. “And Kirk does not have to look over his shoulder every time he throws a bad pass. Like, that is not the case.

“So I know I’m going to have to tell you guys once or twice that that is not the case. Like, we are here to go win, and we are here to go win it all. We are here to win as much as we can win.”

Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah says team continues ‘to have great dialogue’ about Justin Jefferson deal | NFL.com

Last season, Jefferson missed Weeks 6-12 after being placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury. However, the 24-year-old was able to come back by Week 13 to help the Vikings finish the season. Even with missing six weeks, Jefferson was still able to acquire 68 receptions for 1,074 yards and scored five touchdowns. If that doesn’t prove what Jefferson is capable of, he has recorded 392 receptions for 5,899 yards and scored 30 touchdowns in his four years with the Vikings.

Adofo-Mensah knows that keeping Jefferson on their roster is crucial and plans to get the deal done. However, the GM just wants to make sure Jefferson gets the attention he deserves.
“Either way, whenever we sign him, we want Justin to have his whole week,” Adofo-Mensah said. “You know that friend that has a birthday that takes the month? I think Justin would deserve his whole month if we signed a contract to celebrate it. We’re excited to work towards it. We’re going to keep going. You can’t have all these plans when you talk about all these visions and not talk about the king linchpin, so we’re going to keep working toward that end goal.”

In case you missed it on Chiefs Studios

Chiefs Draft: New offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad can play anywhere

In college, the 6-foot-3, 317-pound lineman played at tackle, guard and center — and comes to the NFL ready to play anywhere on the line.

“I think that when you look at my past, it kind of just speaks for itself that I can,” Nourzad remarked during his first session with Kansas City reporters. “I feel very happy and comfortable to play in any position that the coaching staff in the organization decides will help the team as much as possible.”

Nourzad is delighted to join a team that has won back-to-back NFL championships.

“My reaction was just a wave of excitement, specifically [about] the Chiefs,” he recalled of the call from Kansas City’s draft room. “It’s a dynasty. The Chiefs have a really talented team and offensive line room, so I’m really excited to get to learn from all those guys.”

Kansas City’s northeast regional scout Cassidy Kaminski was impressed with Nourzad’s athleticism and his academic background. A graduate of the prestigious Walker School in suburban Atlanta, Nourzad earned an engineering degree at the Ivy League’s Cornell University before coming to Penn State for an MBA in 2022.

“This guy’s so intelligent off the field, that the [Penn State] engineering department was recruiting him almost as heavily as the football department,” Kaminski told reporters on Saturday.

Social media to make you think

Former #Bengals and #Giants WR John Ross, whose 4.22 40-yard dash was the Combine record until Xavier Worthy broke it this year, will participate in the #Eagles’ rookie camp this week on a tryout basis, sources say. Ross had retired last year but is now exploring a comeback. pic.twitter.com/eGk7qyzemS— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 28, 2024

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