The Kansas City Chiefs have made significant changes to their roster long before the 2023 NFL Draft even begins. After replacing left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. with Jawaan Taylor, general manager Brett Veach could be eyeing a wide receiver to fill the void left by JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Kansas City is undergoing a fairly significant roster overhaul for a reigning Super Bowl champion. While it had the cap space to re-sign Smith-Schuster and Brown Jr., especially after releasing Frank Clark, the organization went in another direction.
Taylor, one of the highest-paid offensive linemen in the NFL, will immediately start at left tackle for Kansas City in Week 1. It’s a significant change for a player who started all 66 games in his career at right tackle.
- DeAndre Hopkins stats (2022): 64 receptions, 717 receiving yards, 11.2 ypr
With the vacancy created by letting Brown Jr. filled and the club likely targeting an internal candidate to replace right tackle Andrew Wylie, it appears the front office is turning its attention to upgrading the receiving corps.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Chiefs have expressed interest in free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and Arizona Cardinals star DeAndre Hopkins.
- Odell Beckham Jr stats (2021): 44 receptions, 537 receiving yards, 12.2 ypr
Hopkins is likely to be the first of the two players to come off the board. A five-time All-Pro selection, most recently in 2020, the cost of acquiring him from Arizona is reportedly dropping. While it’s a favorable development for Kansas City, Hopkins’ contract could push them elsewhere.
Beckham Jr. is an ideal alternative for a team that is tight against the NFL salary cap. After missing the 2020 season as he recovered from a torn ACL, the expected value of Beckham Jr’s next contract is expected to be around $8-$12 million per season.
While Beckham Jr. might no longer be a No. 1 receiving option, especially after a second ACL tear, he could fit in nicely as the Chiefs’ second-best offensive weapon in 2023. Even if Kansas City misses out on Hopkins, it appears Beckham Jr. and the 2023 NFL Draft class are viable backup plans for the organization.
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