The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off an incredibly strong draft class, highlighted by two first-round picks that will boost Steve Spagnuolo's defense. However, very quietly, one of the most important improvements happened in the draft's later rounds when the franchise brought in receiver Cyrus Allen. The position badly needed an upgrade after Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster departed in free agency.
There are questions around the team's depth with Tyquan Thornton coming off a career year and Jalen Royals having four career receiving yards. With this in mind, Allen was drafted with the opportunity to step into the rotation and have an immediate impact. The pass catcher had 674 receiving yards in his final college season and an eye-popping 13 touchdowns.
Allen was underutilized in his offense, and due to this and his age (23), he fell further than he should have. It is typical of the Chiefs to find the best possible value, and the franchise did just that, adding a receiver who has a chance to push for meaningful reps in the 2026 season.
The pass catcher is an incredible route runner with impressive fluidity, allowing him to shake tight coverage and find open space. Part of what attracted the Chiefs to Allen is his athleticism, as he offered 16.3 yards per catch throughout his college career. It is the exact type of speedy overlooked weapon the Chiefs needed to complete Andy Reid's offense.
Chiefs Get Perfect Late Draft Steal in Playmaker Cyrus Allen
Kansas City's current projected starting lineup at the position includes Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Thornton as the top three options. This leaves Allen with a clear runway to fight for the fourth receiver role with Royals. Given Allen's speed and ability to find space, it would be shocking not to see him force his way into Kansas City's lineup.
It is clear what a bargain the Chiefs found, adding a clear contributor this late in the draft. Part of this can be explained by Allen's undersized frame, which prevented him from getting the touches his talent deserved at the collegiate level. Still, there is every reason to believe this is a steal of a pick, with Allen potentially stepping in and contributing instantly.
A big part of the Chiefs' offense that has been missing over the past three seasons has been consistent big plays. Patrick Mahomes now has a weapon capable of getting lost behind the defense and creating space underneath with his speed. No question, it would be a shock not to see Allen force his way into the lineup and make it clear just how undervalued he was in this year's draft class.
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