NFL Draft: 5 players Chiefs should draft in first round

Chiefs first-round draft targets: 3. Zay Flowers

The Chiefs still have talent left on the roster at wide receiver, but losing Smith-Schuster and Hardman means they need to reinforce the group via the draft. Flowers doesn’t have outstanding measurables or athleticism, but his tape shows he has the sort of innate ability to get open that makes him a quality value at the end of Round 1.

It’s not as if Mahomes has struggled to work with shorter wideouts in his career. Flowers doesn’t have the type of speed that made Tyreek Hill such a successful Chief, but he’s arguably a better route-runner. He’s the rare college prospect that should be able to contribute in the slot and on the outside as a rookie.

Flowers would also give Kansas City another pass-catcher who could produce yards after the catch at an elite level. He’s a slippery ball carrier who can leave opposing cornerbacks in the dust. Mahomes is just the right quarterback to get Flowers the ball in space and let him make plays.

Some Chiefs fans might prefer to see the team draft a bigger wideout to replace Smith-Schuster as a power slot next year, but Flowers would be solid value at 31. The question is whether or not he’ll still be on the board when Kansas City goes on the clock.