Kansas City Chiefs: Intriguing smaller school prospects for 2020 NFL Draft
By John McCarty
Chiefs have difficult decisions at wide receiver and will need to address depth to ensure offense doesn’t slow down
Free agency and the salary cap likely will cause the Chiefs to lose Demarcus Robinson and Sammy Watkins after the 2019 season. With contract questions lingering currently with Tyreek Hill and a lot of unknown past that, the Chiefs can’t simply ignore wide receiver because they drafted Mecole Hardman this year.
With an offense led by perhaps the best quarterback in the league, the Chiefs have to be certain to alway have quality depth at the wide receiver position. Simply believing Mahomes can make someone a star is a bad idea.
JOHN HIGHTOWER (BOISE STATE)
John Hightower is an early favorite of mine and a prospect I anticipate becoming much more popular as the 2019 season progresses. This past season was his first season at Boise State after spending the previous seasons at junior college.
Hightower has good size at 6’2″ and athletic with burst. He catches with his hands and displays an ability to get downfield as a vertical threat.
WOW. John Hightower goes 88 YARDS to tie a Boise State record for longest run from scrimmage. pic.twitter.com/f2BnHT1ifG
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 14, 2018
I would like to see Hightower become more precise with his routes and stronger physically, both of which are ‘coachable.’ With Mahomes at quarterback, Hill (likely) and Hardman at receiver, the opportunity to develop and work into a vertical passing game certainly would be enticing.
DAMONTE COXIE (MEMPHIS)
In my opinion, Damonte Coxie‘s play-style is similar to former Chief Dwayne Bowe when he came into the league. Big and physical with strong hands, Coxie would certainly appear slow when compared to the other receivers on the roster, but is quick enough and has enough speed to make plays.
He makes clean cuts and runs good routes, allowing him to create space to allow for big plays. Memphis runs a pass-heavy offense (these days, what college program doesn’t), which gives Coxie more than enough chances to shine.
At 6’3″, Coxie’s ability to go up and get the ball combined with strong hands would provide the Chiefs an intriguing middle of the field type option with Hardman and Hill.