The Kansas City Chiefs and the rest of the NFL are just over one week away from making their selections in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Chiefs enter this draft with an expectation of taking at least one of the wide receivers, if not two. Throughout the last couple of weeks, we have named some wide receivers to know as options for Kansas City. We focused on ones that could be the pick in round one. And last week, we looked into names to know for day two of the draft, part one of this two-part series.
Which prospects are possibly better fits for the Kansas City offense out of these names? Will the Chiefs look to draft one of these wide receivers with visions of them being immediate contributors? Let’s kick it off with part two of our list. Who are some more day two wide receivers that KC fans should know, who could be selected in round two or round three?
Day Two Wide Receiver Names To Know, Part II
Of the names we will list today, the Chiefs could be choosing between wide receivers that offer a solid floor and pieces who may need more development. Ideally, this group offers a wide array of options to choose from, when it comes to the players’ top traits. Depending on who is still there on the draft board, Kansas City will get to choose the flavor that they enjoy the most, so to speak.
Jalen McMillan
It feels disrespectful in a way to call Jalen McMillan as talented as only his team’s third-best wide receiver. But behind names like Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk on a star-studded Washington offense, McMillan was essentially the third option in the wide receiver room. With his size and tempo, McMillan can be a vertical threat as someone who can stretch the field. What makes him so good in that role? Mainly, the strong hands and the ball tracking ability down the field are superb from McMillan. Perhaps, more consistency with his route running will be the biggest immediate hurdle at the NFL level.
Javon Baker
Javon Baker is a very intriguing name at this point in the wide receiver class. Figuring out his true potential and ceiling is likely very dependent on which team he goes to, compared to some other wide receivers. If he joins a team like the Chiefs, what kind of role would he operate out of among their wide receivers?
All in all, his dense size helps him after the catch and to create explosive plays. Baker displayed smart instincts and understanding of leverage routinely. He may be best suited to work out of the slot, rather than on the outside most of the time. It is not that his routes and tempo are poor. Though, he won at UCF more from the slot, due to concentration in space and being able to find soft spots quickly.
Malik Washington
Small and shifty, Malik Washington is someone who can do damage by getting the ball in his hands in a plethora of ways. You can see him create something out of nothing on designed touches. You can see him work precise routes in the quick to intermediate passing game. In addition, Washington showed that he could play bigger than his size may indicate while at Virginia, winning contested catch battles. This is a player that may not be anything more than a WR3 at the NFL level. But with his athleticism and positive traits, there are many ways to get creative with him and get a solid amount of production out of him.
Jermaine Burton
When on the field, Jermaine Burton can provide a mixed bag. His natural, soft hands and ability to consistently pluck the ball away from his frame is picture-perfect. Burton is not afraid to use play strength and get physical against contact, either. This can lead to some impressive results in jump ball situations. There are also some frustrations with Burton, to boot. Can he become more crisp as a route runner? Will his lack of creativity and deceptiveness make him an easy player to defend? In the end, Burton is someone who will depend heavily on the coaching staff that he lands with.
Fringe Day Two/Day Three Names To Keep In Mind
There are a few players that may also be worth keeping in mind. Overall, these are names that could go late on day two, while also still lasting a bit on day three. The Chiefs may have interest in some of these names that are on the fringe of being a top 100 pick. That list includes Tez Walker (North Carolina), Brenden Rice (USC), Jamari Thrash (Louisville), Johnny Wilson (Florida State) and Luke McCaffrey (Rice).
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