It’s no secret that the Kansas City Chiefs have had their issues with drops this season, specifically regarding their wide receivers. However, a stat circulating on Wednesday proves how poor that skill position group has been in 2023. Per ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, Chiefs wideouts own an 8% drop rate this season, easily the highest in the NFL.
The #Chiefs WRs have dropped an astonishing 8% of Mahomes’ passes this season. That is the worst drop rate by any group of WRs in the NFL over the past decade by a full percentage point.
No other team in the league this year has their WR core above a 5.1% drop rate.
The Chiefs… pic.twitter.com/4xohoWaLeZ
— Chris (@chiefs_outsider) December 12, 2023
The outlier statistic presented in ESPN’s article should be distinct from the overall drop rate metric, which incorporates the entirety of the offense. However, quarterback Patrick Mahomes owns the second-highest drop percentage in the NFL, trailing only Los Angeles Rams signal-caller Matthew Stafford.
Kansas City Chiefs: Inconsistency in the Wide Receiver Room
The Kansas City receivers have struggled with drops in 2023. Per Pro-Football-Reference, they have four players in the top 70 in drop percentage through Week 14. Justyn Ross, Richie James, Kadarius Toney, and Rashee Rice own a drop percentage north of 10%.
Toney and Rice have been at the center of the issue, with each having big-time drops over the past few weeks. However, the most significant drop of the season goes to fellow wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who dropped the potential game-winner against the Philadelphia Eagles in late November. Last season’s leading receiver, JuJu Smith Schuster, did not return to Kansas City this season.
QB Patrick Mahomes: Amid Down Season
Patrick Mahomes’ statistics have taken an enormous hit due to the play of his receivers. The two-time MVP has thrown for 3,398 yards and 23 touchdowns against 11 picks in 13 games. He is pacing for his lowest touchdown rate and highest interception percentage since taking over as the team’s full-time starter in 2018. Chiefs wide receivers are dropping passes at over double the league’s average rate.
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