1. Franklyn compared to MVS isn't my favorite, I see a bit of C. Watson or G. Pickens crossed with a bit of J. Waddle or Devonta Smith in his game, but think J. Addison is the best comp. Keep in mind though that I ONLY watch these guys college highlights lol. I think Worthy is this year's Hyatt.
2. I'm not very high on big WRs for KC either, unless they have the exceptional physical gifts to be an alpha WR 1 or a big play-breaker. This year those guys for me are Thomas Jr, Keon Coleman and Xavier Legette. Mahomes to Thomas Jr deep would be a great match, if Coleman is the new Mike Evans that'd be a great fit, and I could imagine Andy designing screen passes for Legette to leverage his physical gifts. I hated London last year, didn't even like Dwane Bowe, KC prefers Tyreek Hill types.
3. Speaking of NEVER watching college football, I haven't tuned in to any of Harrison Jr's tape yet. None of the top 3 WRs actually, they're just not of interest if they're not going to be available to us. Is he really that good!? Why is he getting so much hype and Jerry Rice's kid isn't? They both scored 12+ TDs, both had approx. 18 yards per catch, what's the deal? Loved Steve Smith's comment on Rice Jr, said something like "he runs like Pachecco. Like he's running for his life out there! Full sprint every play, maximum effort."
4. I don't think 22 WRs go in the first 3 rounds, there will be guys that drop. I've been thinking lately that there might be a tendency for fans to project WR's higher than they tend to go in the draft because they're a polarizing positions. Fans love offensive weapons! We always fall in love with these draft darlings and forget that most of them don't turn into much when they get in the league. AT Perry is a good example from last year, we were all impressed with him as a novelty and I think he had 1 catch this season. This year, J. Wilson is a better version of what Perry was but not as much interest for whatever reason. Might be bc this draft has so many traditional WRs that he's seen as an odd ball. Might make a good TE!? [Reply]
I've been tooling around with the idea of a draft game for us, looking to you guys to see if there's any interest? ...the idea would be to start a thread for our game, everyone picks 3 players for each of our draft picks, and whoever gets the most correct wins. Maybe I'd send you a Chiefs hat or something if you win, and we could play every offseason.
Originally Posted by Couch-Potato:
Just catching up, here's a few thoughts...
1. Franklyn compared to MVS isn't my favorite, I see a bit of C. Watson or G. Pickens crossed with a bit of J. Waddle or Devonta Smith in his game, but think J. Addison is the best comp. Keep in mind though that I ONLY watch these guys college highlights lol. I think Worthy is this year's Hyatt.
2. I'm not very high on big WRs for KC either, unless they have the exceptional physical gifts to be an alpha WR 1 or a big play-breaker. This year those guys for me are Thomas Jr, Keon Coleman and Xavier Legette. Mahomes to Thomas Jr deep would be a great match, if Coleman is the new Mike Evans that'd be a great fit, and I could imagine Andy designing screen passes for Legette to leverage his physical gifts. I hated London last year, didn't even like Dwane Bowe, KC prefers Tyreek Hill types.
3. Speaking of NEVER watching college football, I haven't tuned in to any of Harrison Jr's tape yet. None of the top 3 WRs actually, they're just not of interest if they're not going to be available to us. Is he really that good!? Why is he getting so much hype and Jerry Rice's kid isn't? They both scored 12+ TDs, both had approx. 18 yards per catch, what's the deal? Loved Steve Smith's comment on Rice Jr, said something like "he runs like Pachecco. Like he's running for his life out there! Full sprint every play, maximum effort."
4. I don't think 22 WRs go in the first 3 rounds, there will be guys that drop. I've been thinking lately that there might be a tendency for fans to project WR's higher than they tend to go in the draft because they're a polarizing positions. Fans love offensive weapons! We always fall in love with these draft darlings and forget that most of them don't turn into much when they get in the league. AT Perry is a good example from last year, we were all impressed with him as a novelty and I think he had 1 catch this season. This year, J. Wilson is a better version of what Perry was but not as much interest for whatever reason. Might be bc this draft has so many traditional WRs that he's seen as an odd ball. Might make a good TE!?
If he compares to J Waddle he won’t be lasting till end of the 1st.
Well, sure, he's not actually J Waddle. I'm just saying I see some similarities between the two in the the type of WRs they are. Meant to mean that Franklin's not just a deep threat, he runs crisp routes and can separate at all three levels, he doesn't just run deep and pray. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Couch-Potato:
Well, sure, he's not actually J Waddle. I'm just saying I see some similarities between the two in the the type of WRs they are. Meant to mean that Franklin's not just a deep threat, he runs crisp routes and can separate at all three levels, he doesn't just run deep and pray.
Haven’t dug into him yet.
Highlights were what I expected, guy running by overwhelmed corners. [Reply]
Adding to the big vs fast WR discussion that there's really no question which is preferred in today's NFL. Here are a couple articles from PFF highlighting the most efficient RBs and WRs with the most separation in 2023.
Most efficient RB:
1. DE’VON ACHANE, MIAMI DOLPHINS: 92.1
Achane didn’t see the volume of some of the other top running backs, but his efficiency was unmatched. He averaged 7.5 yards per carry, including 4.9 after contact, and forced 30 missed tackles on 108 rushing attempts.
I don’t think the take away there is that speed kills. It’s that the dolphins had people so spread out that those fast rbs feasted in that offense. It’s more complimentary football for me. Things have to fit. Were the lions wrong to feed David Montgomery and not feed Gibbs more? I don’t think so. They worked together well. I do think you’re right (as far as speed kills) that Mahomes does best with speedy WRs and their separation. He’s more comfortable with them or appears to be and it really lets him use his arm strength on the deep ball, which we’ve got to get back in this offense. Our offense could be lethal with our current running game and a deep ball. And both of those would open up Kelce more. So, maybe you’re right, speed would kill for us. The fit is there.
Originally Posted by Couch-Potato:
Adding to the big vs fast WR discussion that there's really no question which is preferred in today's NFL. Here are a couple articles from PFF highlighting the most efficient RBs and WRs with the most separation in 2023.
Most efficient RB:
1. DE’VON ACHANE, MIAMI DOLPHINS: 92.1
Achane didn’t see the volume of some of the other top running backs, but his efficiency was unmatched. He averaged 7.5 yards per carry, including 4.9 after contact, and forced 30 missed tackles on 108 rushing attempts.
Originally Posted by staylor26:
You know what else translates?
Dude, like Rice, was extremely productive despite the drops. They're completely overblown if that's the only real knock. You aren't going to get any better at 32.
I like him, the drops and such just generally don't translate very well. Rice has worked out great, but that may be some outlier stuff.
I wouldn't be upset at all with Franklin, my thing is it's kind of against what the Chiefs have looked for in WR's early. Maybe that's a good thing cause it hasn't been a good spot for them drafting early, so some change is needed. [Reply]
Daniel Jeremiah (mock 2.0): Oregon WR Troy Franklin
Jeremiah took North Carolina wide receiver Devontez Walker in his first mock; He had Walker out of the first round in his second mock.
The Chiefs get a big-time vertical complement to 2023 rookie sensation Rashee Rice.
Chad Reuter: Florida State WR Keon Coleman (No. 25 overall pick, trade-up with Green Bay Packers)
Selecting receiver Rashee Rice last year in the second round was a nice start, but the Chiefs’ inconsistency at the position could force them to trade up for another top-tier talent. They send their third-round selection, as well as a fifth-rounder, to Green Bay for this pick.
Lance Zierlein: Michigan WR Roman Wilson
The Chiefs seem to always be looking for receivers, and Wilson would be a home run for them. He’s a smooth athlete with the speed to separate.
Dan Parr: North Carolina WR Devontez Walker
Walker might not have received glowing reviews at the Senior Bowl, but teams will go back to the tape and see what he did at North Carolina last season (41 catches for 699 yards and seven TDs in eight games). He can be a reliable wideout for Patrick Mahomes.
Gennaro Filice: Texas WR Xavier Worthy
If you’re a regular reader of the mock drafts on this website, you might have noticed a trend in this round-ending slot. Daniel Jeremiah just projected Oregon WR Troy Franklin to Kansas City, with that coming on the heels of Dan Parr ( North Carolina’s Devontez Walker ) and Lance Zierlein ( Michigan’s Roman Wilson ) sending two other receivers to the Chiefs at Pick No. 32. Oh, and Chad Reuter had K.C. trading up for Florida State WR Keon Coleman.
So, allow me to add a new name to the potpourri of pass catchers. Worthy hasn’t been a mock mainstay to this point. Some are worried about the concentration drops, which may be an understandable concern for the Chiefs in particular, but if he runs as fast as many anticipate in Indianapolis, that could change real quick. And yes, I enjoy giving the best quarterback on the planet a pure field stretcher in the DeSean Jackson mold. He could use it. Warren Sharp can explain why.
Bucky Brooks: Michigan DT Kris Jenkins
The Chiefs’ surging defense has thrived with a collection of young players slotted into prominent roles. Jenkins is an intriguing prospect with the bloodlines — his father, Kris Sr., was a four-time Pro Bowler — and physical tools to blossom into a star.
Eric Edholm: Missouri pass rusher Darius Robinson
Yes, the Chiefs have dipped into Mizzou’s talent pool in recent years, but this isn’t geographical bias. If they’re going to let Chris Jones walk, Robinson might be the best replacement in this draft — and truthfully, he could go higher than this. At a hefty 286 pounds, Robinson would also be a different type of edge than last year’s first-rounder, Felix Anudike-Uzomah. And there’s enough WR depth in this draft for Kansas City to consider waiting on addressing that need.
Cynthia Frelund: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
L’Jarius Sneed appears to have played himself into a very big pay day this offseason, which means Kansas City might have an opening at corner entering next season. McKinstry’s results in the 40-yard dash and agility drills will matter a lot, especially given how close the margin is in my models between him and UNC wideout Devontez Walker, who will likely run fast in Indy, and how much we know the Chiefs love speed.
My take
There is undoubtedly a trend here, with most analysts figuring the Chiefs have to go with a wide receiver, considering the shape of the room in 2024.
However, the alternate scenarios are interesting to me. Let’s say the Chiefs go after (and land) a high-caliber free-agent wide receiver ahead of the NFL Draft. Let’s be specific in this hypothetical and say the choice is Mike Evans. Suddenly, I think Patrick Mahomes is more than OK in terms of pass-catchers, given you’re looking at Evans, Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, Justin Watson, Noah Gray, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore and perhaps even Marquez Valdes-Scantling (should he be open to a restructure).
Kansas City can then use its top pick to address what is expected to be a key defensive loss, be it defensive tackle Chris Jones or cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. If Jones goes elsewhere, Brooks’ Kris Jenkins pick or Edholm’s Darius Robinson pick makes sense. If the Chiefs pay Jones and say goodbye to Sneed, Frelund’s McKinstry selection could be the way to go. His height, weight and ability in press-man may provide optimism that Kansas City could keep that young secondary train chugging along.
Then, the Chiefs use the second round and beyond to take a promising wide receiver and/or pass-catching tight end.
For the love of all that is right in the world, please add Kamari Lassiter to this list.
He's one guy I'd drive a stake in the ground for in the first if we don't move way up for a LT or there aren't a very select couple of WRs sitting in striking distance.
As much as I like Franklin this is one guy who would probably make me flip a coin, especially if we're losing Sneed. [Reply]
