The Chiefs don’t need to wait for the 2027 NFL Draft to start building a board at receiver. With college football rolling into conference play, Kansas City scouts are already tracking a handful of wideouts who could matter down the road, and this weekend offers another useful round of tape.
That makes the position worth watching closely, because the Chiefs’ biggest issue this season has been easy to spot. The receiver room has not delivered steady production, and with Rashee Rice heading to free agency this offseason, the need to add another pass catcher is only growing. The real question is which kind of receiver Kansas City will chase.
Ryan Wingo is one name that keeps popping up for good reason. The Texas wideout has the kind of athletic profile that jumps off the screen: big frame, explosive movement, and the raw tools to become an elite NFL target.
The problem has been the same one following him for a while now - drops. His drop rate sits well above 10 percent, he led Texas with seven drops last season, and he already let a would-be touchdown slip away against Ohio State.
That concentration and confidence issue is what scouts want to see cleaned up, especially with Texas facing Tennessee in a high-profile matchup this weekend.
Clemson’s duo of Bryant Wesco Jr. and TJ Moore gives evaluators another important test. Both receivers have drawn first-round buzz, and both will be under the microscope against a Cal secondary that has a reputation for quality play.
Wesco brings more agility and versatility, winning with different release moves and a broad route tree. Moore offers more power, using his body well, stopping and starting sharply, and attacking the ball at its highest point through contact.
Either one would give Kansas City a different type of weapon, and both remain players to monitor all season.
On the other side of that Clemson-Cal matchup, Ian Strong will get a chance to show what he can do against a defense that has not started the year especially well. Strong transferred from Rutgers for the 2026 season and brings a 6-3 frame, a classic outside-receiver skill set, and a route tree built around strong comeback routes that help him separate. He also uses his strength and ball skills to win, which is part of what makes this week so interesting for scouts looking for a breakout.
Then there’s Collin Dixon, who has moved quickly up draft boards thanks to a blistering start at Illinois. Through three games, he has already scored seven touchdowns, which leads the Big Ten in receiving touchdowns and already tops anything he had done in his career before 2026.
At 215 pounds, Dixon is a stocky receiver who wins with a mix of physicality and quickness, and he handles the ball well once it’s in his hands. For the Chiefs, he looks like the kind of late Day 2 or early Day 3 option who could help bring some stability to the receiver room.
In Other News...
Chiefs Suddenly Have Real Stakes At Left Tackle Against Miami
Kansas City heads into its matchup with Miami with one of its most important protection questions still hanging over the week. Josh Simmons will not be available at left tackle, which leaves the Chiefs to sort out how they want to handle Patrick Mahomes blind side against a Dolphins defense that has given them plenty to think about before kickoff. There is some relief elsewhere on the roster, though, with cornerback Mansoor Delane set to be available and several key players, including Mahomes, officially cleared from the injury report.
The broader injury picture tilts more in Kansas Citys favor than Miamis, with the Dolphins set to be without wide receiver Caleb Douglas because of an ankle injury and running back Jaylen Wright also doubtful. Even so, the Chiefs attention is likely to stay on the tackle spot, where the absence of Simmons turns a routine week into a test of depth and flexibility. For a team built around Mahomes, the line in front of him often shapes the whole game, and this one has suddenly become a real storyline. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Are Asking Rashee Rice To Do Something Risky
The Chiefs have been using Rashee Rice in a new offensive wrinkle that borrows from a Los Angeles Rams concept, one that asks the receiver to do more than just get open. Its a physical job built around blocking and a C-Gap insert route, and Rice has already been working it into games as Kansas City looks to create more play-action chances and keep defenses guessing.
Its a fitting showcase for Rice, who has earned praise from offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy for the way hes handled the assignment. Still, the role comes with a built-in concern for Kansas City, since Rices smaller frame and the teams thin wide receiver depth make every extra collision feel a little more consequential, especially with his contract situation still unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Receiver Battle Could Open A Real Chance For Cyrus Allen
Cyrus Allen has barely gotten on the field through the first two weeks of the season, but the Chiefs have not sounded alarmed about the rookie receivers slow start. Kansas City and wide receivers coach Chad OShea have kept the message consistent: Allen is being brought along patiently, with the emphasis on steady development rather than forcing snaps before he is ready.
The next opening could come against the Dolphins, a matchup that may give the Chiefs a better look at where Allen fits in the receiver rotation. With a battle for playing time still taking shape, this is the kind of spot where a young player can turn limited early usage into something more meaningful if the opportunity presents itself. [Read more 🡒]