The Kansas City Chiefs could add yet another game-altering weapon to Patrick Mahomes ‘ supporting cast by selecting Luke McCaffrey, yes the brother of San Francisco 49ers All-Pro Christian McCaffrey, in the 2024 NFL Draft.
McCaffrey, 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, caught 71 passes for 992 yards and 13 touchdowns while flashing all kinds of explosiveness by averaging 14 yards per reception last season at the University of Rice.
If McCaffrey somehow slides into Day 3 of the NFL Draft, Pro Football Focus believes the Kansas City Chiefs are a perfect fit.
“McCaffrey did well for himself in pre-draft workouts,” Gordon McGuinness writes for PFF. “Impressing in speed and agility drills.
“Pair that with his on-field production at Rice, where he averaged 2.11 yards per route run and dropped just three of the 74 catchable passes thrown his way in 2023, and there’s a player who can outperform a Day 3 draft slot.”
Luke McCaffrey NFL Draft Scouting Report
McCaffrey saw his stock rise during a stellar week at the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
But, even before the pre-draft process shifted into overdrive, McCaffrey developed a reputation as an explosive receiver in the open field. Across five collegiate seasons — two at Nebraska before transferring to Rice in 2021, McCaffrey caught 131 passes for 1,732 yards with 19 touchdowns, while averaging 9.2 yards per reception and adding 927 rushing yards with seven more scores.
“Big slot target,” NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein writes of McCaffrey. “Who comes from high-end NFL bloodlines and who showed noticeable improvement in his second season at the position. Luke lacks the size of his father, former Pro Bowl receiver Ed McCaffrey, and the explosiveness of his brother, Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey, but he catches with soft hands, great focus and extreme toughness.”
As Pro Football Focus points out, McCaffrey posted an elite 60.7 percent contested-catch rate last season, while forcing 10 missed tackles and boasting a 10.7 yard average depth per target, underscoring his ability to be a threat in the vertical passing game.
How McCaffrey Fits Kansas City Chiefs Offense
Few needs rank higher for the Chiefs during the upcoming draft more than adding receiver help to Mahomes’ arsenal, even after signing Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.
Given the added uncertainty now surrounding Rashee Rice’s availability, McCaffrey could be a target to watch for the Chiefs to upgrade the slot receiver spot alongside Brown and All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce.
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