After the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver corps was plagued by drops during the 2023 regular season, general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid could turn to the 2024 NFL Draft to give Patrick Mahomes’ arsenal a major boost.
While speedster Xavier Woods could be an ideal fit to fill the void left behind by Tyreek Hill‘s departure before the 2022 campaign, the Chiefs may need to prioritize sure-handed pass-catchers in the early rounds of April’s draft.
In CBS Sports’ latest 2024 mock draft projection, the Chiefs select Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman, dropping him into Mahomes‘ supporting cast in the vertical passing game, with the No. 32 overall pick.
What Keon Coleman brings Kansas City Chiefs
At 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds, Coleman is a big-bodied receiver who has the potential to be a potent red-zone target immediately upon arrival as an NFL rookie.
In three collegiate seasons, Coleman caught 115 passes for 1,506 yards with 19 touchdown receptions and nine of those scores came in the red zone.
Given the Chiefs’ reliance on Travis Kelce, especially inside the 20-yard line, Coleman could add some target versatility to the Chiefs’ passing game, especially deep in opposing territory.
Perhaps most importantly, from a Kansas City perspective, Coleman was only charged with two drops last season, according to Pro Football Focus. Chiefs receivers, as a unit, dropped a league-high 44 passes during the 2023 campaign.
A reliable target with sure-hands who can become a consistent red-zone weapon, such as Coleman, has the potential to elevate Kansas City’s offense.
Keon Coleman Scouting Report
After getting boxed out of the Diontae Johnson trade market, and missing out on Darnell Mooney in free agency, selecting a receiver such as Coleman might hold the key to fixing Kansas City’s wildly inconsistent receiving corps.
As Pro Football Focus points out, in addition to possessing reliable hands, Coleman is also a weapon in the open field, by creating 10 missed tackles and pulling down 10 contested receptions.
“Coleman is a top-tier athlete for the position from an explosiveness standpoint,” PFF writes. “His burst, top speed and leaping ability are All-Pro caliber. However, the lack of agility in his game limits his route tree and ability to separate from defensive backs. Those who love above-the-rim (full pun intended), alpha-type receivers will be big fans, but his inability to consistently separate means he won’t be for everyone.”
For More Football News:
Follow Matt Lombardo on Threads at @MattLombardoNFL. To read more of our articles and in-depth NFL coverage, click here.
