Chiefs: 3 draft picks that can win Rookie of the Year because of Patrick Mahomes

The Kansas City Chiefs came close to repeating as Super Bowl champions but with the addition of one of these rookies, Patrick Mahomes could add another ring to his resume.

There are very few weaknesses on the Kansas City Chiefs, which is why they are the favorites to win their second Super Bowl in three years. That said, they aren’t a perfect roster and will use the 2021 NFL Draft to shore up some deficiencies and strengthen their strengths.

While taking an offensive lineman in the first round may be the path Brett Veach and Andy Reid decide to pursue, giving Patrick Mahomes another weapon could not only lead to numerous records being broken in Kansas City but also give the Chiefs the NFL Rookie of the Year.

The Chiefs won’t be in a position to take the top pass-catchers in the draft, Ja’Marr Chase, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle or Kyle Pitts, but there is so much depth at receiver this year, they are going to be able to get a stud if they go receiver.

If the Chiefs take any of these receivers, you can pencil them in as one of the leading contenders to win the Rookie of the Year in large part because of Mahomes.

Chiefs: Draft picks that can win Rookie of the Year because of Patrick Mahomes

3. Terrace Marshall, Jr. – LSU

Terrace Marshall may not be on the board at No. 31 but if he is, it’s a no-brainer to take the former LSU football star. Marshall caught 13 touchdowns on 46 catches for 672 yards when the Tigers won the national title and he had Joe Burrow throwing him the ball. He was the No. 3 receiver behind Chase and Justin Jefferson, who is the best comp for Marshall. In 2020, Marshall added 10 more touchdowns on 48 receptions for 731 yards. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder would be a great fit with Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Mecole Hardman and Demarcus Robinson.

2. Rondale Moore – Purdue

Rondale Moore was an instant sensation at Purdue where he was a Consensus All-American as a freshman in 2018 when he had 114 receptions for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also added 213 yards and two scores as a runner. Oh, and he also averaged 20.1 yards per kick return and 6.8 yards per punt return. The 5-foot-9 receiver is built similarly to Hill and has the 4.3 speed and cheat-code vertical jump numbers to match. Since then, however, Moore has only played seven games due to injury, combining for 64 receptions, 657 yards and three touchdowns (1 rushing). He initially opted out of the 2020 season before returning to play in three games and the dip in production combined with injury concerns should be dwarfed by his outsized potential in a diminutive package. Imagine Moore, Hill and Hardman on the field at the same time. That’d three-fourths of a 4×400-meter relay that could take the bronze at the Olympics.

1. Elijah Moore – Ole Miss

No college football player averaged more receiving yards per game than Ole Miss standout Elijah Moore. In eight games, Moore averaged 149.1 yards per game compared to 142.8 for the Heisman Trophy winner, DeVonta Smith. Moore also led the nation in receptions per game with 10.8, nearly two more than Smith’s nine per game to earn Consensus All-American honors. Overall, Moore had 86 receptions for 1,183 yards and eight touchdowns. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Moore is built like Moore where he can be a demon in the slot and rack up a high volume of targets from Mahomes and obliterate defenses with his speed underneath while Hill takes the top off and Kelce does his thing all over the field.

If the Chiefs are able to get any of these receivers, you can bank on Mahomes being the happiest person in Kansas City. Mahomes may have a chance to throw more than 50 touchdowns if the Chiefs add one of these potential Rookies of the Year and get Kansas City to a third straight Super Bowl.

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