Chiefs rumors: 3 receivers to add with Odell Beckham Jr. off the market
By Kristen Wong
No Odell Beckham Jr, no problem: Chiefs should add WR Justin Watson
After losing Mecole Hardman to the New York Jets, Kansas City could re-sign wideout Justin Watson to boost its pass-catching corps.
Watson has only spent one year, the 2022 season, on the Chiefs, and he recorded a mere 15 catches for 315 yards and two touchdowns.
Not many can fault Hardman as well as JuJu Smith-Schuster for leaving the Chiefs for more money and/or more playing time, yet Kansas City should want to re-sign at least a few players to keep the same continuity from last season’s success. In that regard, bringing back Justin Watson is a no-brainer.
Is Watson going to develop into the No. 1 wide receiver and blow the league away with 1,000-plus yards next season? Probably not.
But he did provide the Chiefs with a nice-looking outside target in games, can build upon his chemistry with Mahomes, and he would seamlessly slide back into his tertiary role from last year.
The Chiefs found out they don’t need a Tyreek Hill-esque deep threat to win games, and they’ll probably sign at least one external wideout given their losses. They shouldn’t treat a Watson re-signing as the solution to their wideout unit; rather, it’s just the start.