Chiefs: Dark horse replacement for Tyreek Hill emerges
Tyreek Hill’s departure leaves a big hole at receiver for the Chiefs. Pulling off this surprising trade for Laviska Shenault could help Kansas City fill the void.
The Chiefs aren’t wasting any time trying to fill Tyreek Hill’s shoes. Andy Reid and the team’s front office are already making inquiries to see if the Jaguars are willing to part with Laviska Shenault to give the team’s offense a much-needed boost.
The former second-round pick racked up 63 catches for 619 yards for a Jacksonville offense that struggled mightily on multiple fronts. It’s easy to envision a sharp uptick in production for Shenault if he’s permitted to move to the comfortable confines of the Chiefs’ offensive system.
Chiefs rumors: Could Laviska Shenault be a Tyreek Hill replacement?
The real question is whether or not the Jaguars will entertain trade offers for their young weapon. He’s exactly the sort of receiver the team should be looking to keep to help ease Trevor Lawrence’s transition to the NFL. If the Chiefs really do want to pry Shenault away from the new regime in Jacksonville they’re going to need to come with a strong trade offer.
#Chiefs are inquiring about #Jags WR Laviska Shenault, per sources.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 24, 2022
Shenault, 23, was a 2nd-rd pick in 2020 and has plenty of fans throughout the league. One HC told me: “That kid’s a baller. We loved him in the draft. … Only a matter of time before he really pops.”
Kansas City might entertain the idea of parting with one of their late first-round picks in this year’s draft to consummate a deal. Either the No. 29 or No. 30 overall selection might be enough to satisfy the Jaguars. The Chiefs may well believe that Shenault has a better chance of developing into a true No. 1 receiver than any rookie they can select at that late juncture in Round 1.
Shenault isn’t all that similar to Hill in terms of his style, but he can slot in as an immediate starter on the outside for Kansas City’s offense. He’s got good size, speed, and fluidity to run a wide variety of routes from the perimeter. He isn’t as explosive as Hill over the top, but few receivers in the NFL boast that type of elite speed.
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Chiefs fans should expect to see their team linked with quite a few receivers as the draft approaches. Making a shrewd move for Shenault might represent one of the best possible outcomes for Kansas City in the aftermath of the Hill trade.