Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Travis Kelce raves about the Chiefs' first-round pick

It's safe to say that Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is stoked Kansas City took wide receiver Xavier Worthy with the 28th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

"It's looking like [quarterback Patrick Mahomes] has another extremely fast man to throw the ball deep to — or just get the ball in his hands," Kelce said on his podcast "New Heights." "Because a lot of his highlights, you see, he catches the ball, and he's splitting defenders and making guys miss. He's an all-around football guy. He's not just track speed." 

While Kelce's still one of the best players in the league, the 34-year-old can't continue to carry the team's receiving corps. Last season, he failed to surpass 1,000 receiving yards for the first time since 2015.

Worthy — who broke the 40-yard dash record (4.21) at the NFL Scouting Combine — should give Kelce the help he needs. In three seasons at Texas, he amassed 197 receptions for 2,755 yards and 26 TD catches.

Worthy suits Kansas City head coach Andy Reid's system. Speedy wideouts, such as DeSean Jackson and Tyreek Hill, have thrived under the offensive mastermind. 

"It doesn't hurt to have down-the-field speed," Reid said of Worthy, via The Athletic's Nate Taylor. "We've functioned without the great speed down the field and done well. But if you have an opportunity to get somebody that you think is a good player, just not a speed guy, I think you probably need to take advantage of that."  

Last season, the Chiefs passing attack lacked big-play ability, which is one reason they finished 14th in the league in points per game (22.2). Expect that to change this season. Along with Worthy, the Chiefs signed WR Marquise Brown (one year, $7M), who runs a 4.27 40-yard dash.

Kansas City fans should be licking their chops, as the Chiefs may have one of the most explosive offenses in the league. 

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