The Kansas City Chiefs have been doing their homework on some top-end wide receiver prospects leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft.
It is a major need for the defending Super Bowl champion after Kansas City lost JuJu Smith-Schuster to the conference rival New England Patriots during NFL free agency.
As of right now, Patrick Mahomes‘ top-three targets at wide receiver are Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore. While the two-time NFL MVP has proven to be able to get water from a rock at this position, adding a young talent to the mix makes sense.
It’s in this that Kansas City is working out former Boston College star and likely top-20 pick Zay Flowers ahead of the draft next week.
The 5-foot-9 Flowers has been ascending draft boards after an uber productive career in Boston College. Last season saw him record 78 receptions for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Related: 2023 Kansas City Chiefs mock draft
Zay Flowers as a fit for the Kansas City Chiefs
First off, Flowers’ size pretty much limits him to the slot. This leads us to question whether general manager Brett Veach and Co. are actually sold on 2022 second-round pick Skyy Moore taking on a larger role as a sophomore.
Secondly, Flowers’ ability to get quick separation at the line and provide big windows in the passing game would be an ideal fit in Kansas City. Given the talent we’ve seen from Mahomes throughout his career, Flowers would likely be able to make an immediate impact in the passing game.
At issue here is Kansas City picking No. 31 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. The team will have to move up of it wants to add Flowers to the mix. The good news? Kansas City boasts a total of 10 picks in the annual event. It is not going to roster 10 rookies, meaning a trade up is a real possibility.
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Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver situation and DeAndre Hopkins
To answer the obvious question. No, adding Flowers to the mix doesn’t preclude Kansas City from acquiring DeAndre Hopkins in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals.
A three-time All-Pro receiver, Hopkins has been on the trade block all offseason. He has pretty much listed the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills as ideal landing spots with a deal likely to come to fruition at some point during the NFL Draft.
Considering that Hopkins could likely be had for a mid-round pick, acquiring hm wouldn’t stop the Chiefs from going wide receiver in Round 1.
In this scenario, Hopkins would start on the outside opposite Valdes-Scantling with Zay Flowers and Skyy Moore battling it out in the slot.