Kansas City’s rookie receiver room is already giving Andy Reid something to talk about, and Cyrus Allen is the name rising fastest.
The former Cincinnati Bearcats wideout, taken by the Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft at No. 176 overall, has wasted no time getting on the field. Allen has gone through rookie minicamp and team practices ahead of the start of training camp on Wednesday, July 29, and he’s already working his way into the offense in a meaningful way.
Reid’s early read on the rookie was simple: "I think Pat's got some trust there."
That trust has shown up in Allen’s usage. He has been getting reps with the first-team offense lately and is expected to be a central piece of the Kansas City attack this season. On the first day of camp, he saw plenty of work with the starters and hauled in a bunch of passes from Patrick Mahomes, who is rehabbing an ACL injury from last season as he tries to get back for the start of the NFL season.
The early buzz around Allen only got louder from there. ESPN’s Nate Taylor noted that Allen was the only receiver who stood out in a group that had the most disappointing day at training camp.
Kansas City also added another Bearcats pass catcher in Jeff Caldwell, who signed as an undrafted free agent. Caldwell turned heads at the NFL Combine with an athleticism score of 99, the highest since Pittsburgh Steelers receiver DK Metcalf. He’s viewed more as a developmental player, but he’s also considered likely to make the 53-man roster and could grow into a role as the season unfolds.
The Chiefs open the season on September 14 on Monday Night Football against the Denver Broncos at home. Allen and Caldwell will head back to Cincinnati on December 13, when Kansas City plays the Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Charles Goldman reported that WR coach Chad O'Shea is likely not going to be thrilled when he rewatches the film from the Chiefs’ first full-team practice, adding that the only standout was rookie Cyrus Allen.
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