Patrick Mahomes. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The Kansas City Chiefs’ reported plans for the 2024 NFL Draft should make quarterback Patrick Mahomes a very happy man.

Coming off a second straight Super Bowl championship-winning season, the Kansas City Chiefs hold the No. 32 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. And according to a top NFL insider, the team will likely prioritize wide receiver to help Patrick Mahomes.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that wide receiver may be Kansas City’s main focus at the NFL Draft. Schefter noted that top WR Rashee Rice will likely receive “a multigame suspension” for his involvement in a six-car accident:

“Kansas City, which owns the No. 32 pick, would have been expected to look for wide receiver help even before Rice’s troubles. The team had the most drops in the league (38) last season. Now, it sounds like it’s the right draft to add a wideout.

Asked to assess the wide receivers in this class, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said: “I think it’s one of the deeper classes…There is a large group of receivers in the first 50 picks that we have great grades on. Then I think there’s another pocket right behind that.”

Rice, Kansas City’s second-leading receiver behind Travis Kelce last season, is currently facing eight charges over his role in the accident. Kansas City released deep threat Marquez Valdes-Scantling in a cap-saving move and also decided not to bring back Super Bowl 58 hero Mecole Hardman, who remains a free agent.

The Chiefs bolster one of the league’s best offensive lines and a top-five defense, so there aren’t any other pressing needs heading into the draft. So for GM Brett Veach, taking a WR in one of the early rounds has to be a priority here.

Potential WR Targets For Kansas City Chiefs

Obviously, the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers won’t be available for Kansas City unless they give up a king’s ransom (multiple first-round picks) to move up.

But there will be plenty of intriguing options in the next tier of WR prospects for the defending Super Bowl champions. This includes Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy of Texas, Ladd McConkey of Georgia, LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. and South Carolina’s Xavier Legette.

Kansas City can’t expect to win another Super Bowl without adding at least one more impact receiver for Patrick Mahomes, especially if Rice misses time. So ultimately, it would be somewhat surprising if they passed on a WR in the first round.