PFF Ranks Chiefs’ Receiving Corps Just Outside of Top 10 in NFL

A lot was made of the Kansas City Chiefs' pass-catching core surrounding quarterback Patrick Mahomes last season, but that core didn't seem to hinder Mahomes at all. In fact, the 27-year-old signal-caller threw for a league-leading 5,250 yards and 42 touchdowns while also winning NFL MVP for the second time in his career.

This offseason, though, wideouts JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman departed via free agency. That, combined with the facts that tight end Travis Kelce is slated to turn 34 years old later this year and veteran running back Jerick McKinnon is also on the wrong side of 30, led many to believe that Kansas City needed to make a serious upgrade in the receiver room. As the end of June draws near, however, no such moves have been made aside from the Chiefs drafting rookie Rashee Rice and signing Richie James.

As things stand, the Chiefs are likely to opt for a Kelce-first approach on offense and then figure the rest out later. A receivers-by-committee philosophy could be in play for the second year in a row, and that doesn't apply solely to the wideout position. Because Mahomes is willing to go to his tight end and/or running backs so frequently, it offsets some of the question marks surrounding the wide receiver room.

In a recent ranking of the NFL's receiving corps, Pro Football Focus factored in every position that positively impacts the passing game on offense. Trevor Sikkema's list has the Chiefs' group of pass-catchers, ranking just outside the top 10. Here's why he had the arsenal checking in at the No. 11 spot: 

I'll get some pushback for having the Chiefs this high, but I’m fine with that. Over the last three seasons, only one player has earned a higher receiving grade than Travis Kelce’s 93.7, and that player is Davante Adams.

The Chiefs' receiver room beyond Kelce might look unproven, but a healthy Kadarius Toney is a game-changing player, Skyy Moore is poised to take the next step forward and Marquez Valdes-Scantling can be a solid deep threat. Throw in what Jerick McKinnon can give you out of the backfield, and I’m betting on that group.

The Chiefs are undoubtedly relying on a fair amount of internal improvement this coming season, especially from their wide receivers. Entering his sixth season in the league, it's likely that Marquez Valdes-Scantling is at or near his peak within an NFL offense. With that said, combining his production with a second-year jump from Skyy Moore and more comfort and consistency from Kadarius Toney could bring great benefits to Kansas City. Moore, a second-round pick in last year's draft, had just 250 receiving yards as a rookie. Toney, who was acquired via trade during the season, flashed his potential but struggled to stay healthy and also didn't play a ton of snaps.

Elsewhere, the Chiefs will count on some combination of the aforementioned Rice, as well as Justin Watson and potentially James or someone else who makes the final 53-man roster, to contribute at receiver. In the tight end and running back rooms, there are also multiple pass-catchers that will make plays at various points in the year. This is a very top-heavy assortment of weapons as far as star talent is concerned, but it's also a deep group across the board. That likely played a role in Sikkema's ranking, which pays some respect to general manager Brett Veach's roster-building strategy.