The next subject of our early Kansas City Chiefs 2021 NFL Draft prospects is Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney. Chiefs fans should get to know Toney as he'll be a potential draft selection for the Chiefs and he would be a perfect fit for the Chiefs offense.
Before we talk about anything regarding Toney and his abilities, why do the Chiefs need another wide receiver? Well, this is probably Sammy Watkins' last year in Kansas City and there will be a hole left at that spot. The Chiefs were lucky to get Watkins back as he took a large pay cut to stay with the team but he just can't stay healthy and he'll probably find a new home after this year. Demarcus Robinson is also a free agent after this year and he clearly has hit his ceiling. That leaves the Chiefs wide receiver depth with Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, and Byron Pringle? That's not too great. Sure, Pringle has been great in spurts but he's not a starting wide receiver. Mecole Hardman is also still progressing and the Chiefs will simply need more. That's where Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney comes in.
Kadarius Toney would be a massive boost for this Chiefs offense even as a rookie. Toney isn't a very polished wide receiver when it comes to running routes and catching ability, but that's all coachable. Remember Tyreek Hill's rookie season? That's what Toney would be in this offense. Now, Toney is no Tyreek Hill, but he's damn close. At 5'9", 190lbs, he is a little bit on the slighter side (like Hill) but he is very fast as well and should run somewhere around the 4.3-4.5 range at the combine. On top of that he is very shifty and has good change of direction ability that quite literally makes him a threat to score every time he touches the ball. A monster in open space. Florida has used him on sweeps, as a running back, at the wildcat, and just about every position on the field on offense. He is a player that Andy Reid is probably chomping at the bit to get his hands on as he is that true gadget, do-it-all guy that Reid has wanted for years.
This year at Florida, Toney currently has 45 catches for 541 yds and 7 TDs in just five games. He has somewhat burst onto the scene as he wasn't that productive as an underclassman, but a lot of that can be attributed to the fact Florida was loaded at wide receiver and Toney just didn't get his chance. Regardless, the athleticism jumps off the charts and you can definitely see the potential is there. Toney could come to Kansas City, play behind Hardman and Hill, takeover special teams duties as he's been a dynamite returner for Florida as well, and add yet another option to the Chiefs offense. He wouldn't be rushed to contribute heavily right away and he'd be entering a dynamic offense where the attention would rarely be on him, giving him the opportunity to make big plays.
What are the odds he falls to Kansas City? Pretty good actually. He's not as well-rounded as Jaylen Waddle, De'Vonta Smith, or Rondale Moore. He won't go that early and there are a lot of other notable names who have produced more than Toney which is fine because it increases the odds that Kansas City can grab him. You can expect him to go anywhere from the 2nd-4th rounds.
Don't think Brett Veach won't think about adding another weapon to this offense. He's been adamant about always adding more weapons and keep in mind Veach was prepared to trade up for Henry Ruggs last year if he fell into the mid-to-late 20's. Chiefs fans should absolutely start following Kadarius Toney when it comes to possible draft prospects come this summer.