Will the Chiefs use their first-round draft pick on a wide receiver?

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In terms of their roster numbers from last season, the Kansas City Chiefs are at a net negative at wide receiver with the draft three weeks away.

They signed free agent Marquise Brown, but released Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Mecole Hardman and Richie James, who were also in the playing rotation, are free agents and remain unsigned.

The Chiefs began the offseason needing help at wide receiver, even before the uncertainty of Rashee Rice‘s availability after the chain reaction car crash in Dallas last week. Rice was far and away the Chiefs’ leading wide receiver as a rookie last season.

Is it too obvious the Chiefs will select a wide receiver with the No. 32 pick? Maybe. The Chiefs have made surprising moves before with the use of their first-round pick. In 2020, they selected a running back, Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Last year, they selected Felix Anudike-Uzomah, giving them a defensive end in the opening round for the second straight year.

The Chiefs also have three other main wide receivers back from last season. Justin Watson was second among the team’s wide receivers in yards and touchdowns. But the others, Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney, had disappointing seasons.

That’s why wide receiver makes the most sense for the Chiefs, even after signing Brown. He is two seasons removed from his best NFL season with the Baltimore Ravens, when he had 91 catches and more than 1,000 yards. His two seasons in Arizona were marked by Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray‘s torn right ACL, an injury that took 11 months of rehab.

Brown caught 51 passes in 14 games with the Arizona Cardinals last season.

“Marquise gives you that speed element on the outside, or inside for that matter,” coach Andy Reid said. “He’s played all the different spots. He’s a smart kid. He’s had some productive years so I invite that in.

“You have that guy who can take the top off [the defense] and track the ball well. But his short and intermediate games are good, too. He’s played inside and he’s played outside. He’s flexible that way so we’ll be able to move him around a little bit.”

Brown said he came to the Chiefs because playing in Reid’s system and with quarterback Patrick Mahomes offered him a chance to show his complete game in a way he didn’t with the Ravens or Cardinals.

“I feel like I can affect all three levels of the game: short, intermediate and deep,” Brown said. “I feel like times in Baltimore and in Arizona I showed facets of things that I could do but not on a consistent basis.”