KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Extensive receiver Xavier Worthy confirmed one of many greatest causes the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs drafted him within the first spherical in the course of the group’s rookie camp when he left defenders behind on a deep sample down the center and caught a cross from quarterback Chris Oladokun.
The camp wasn’t good for Worthy, who dropped a couple of passes throughout his first follow and sat out the final half after his leg cramped. However, as with the large play, he confirmed sufficient over the three days for the Chiefs to be ok with his means to assist their passing recreation.
“Individuals have been dogging him for the primary day,” mentioned Oladokun, the one quarterback on the camp beneath contract. “That is only a welcome to the league. However Xavier goes to do rather well on this offense. We’re all actually enthusiastic about him. You noticed what he can do by way of spinning [defenders] on the prime of routes and the way explosive he’s, stretching the sphere and his [yards-after-the catch] means.”
Worthy ran the quickest 40-yard sprint time in mix historical past this yr together with his 4.21. However he confirmed at rookie camp that he is extra than simply pace. As Oladokun talked about, he greater than as soon as separated from a defender together with his means to get out and in of a break shortly.
“I really feel like I can play receiver,” Worthy mentioned. “I’ve run the entire route tree, [been] disciplined, sensible. … I really feel like I am able to compete and see what’s up in Kansas Metropolis.
“I am coming with a mentality to work exhausting, earn my spot and earn my spot within the locker room.”
Rookie cornerback Kamal Hadden, a sixth-round draft decide, lined Worthy on multiple play throughout rookie camp.
“The pace is one factor however I really feel like he runs nice routes,” Hadden mentioned. “He is a man that may get open and I really feel like he is a man that is going to make lots of performs within the league and he will do his factor right here.”
Worthy and Marquise Brown have been the additions to a large receiving group that exterior of rookie Rashee Rice produced little for the Chiefs final season. Brown is 2 years faraway from his finest NFL season when he caught 91 passes for greater than 1,000 yards for the Baltimore Ravens in 2021.
Worthy caught 75 passes for 1,014 yards final season in 14 video games at Texas.
The thought behind signing two quick huge receivers was to open up the passing recreation. The Chiefs have been 14th within the league final season in cross performs of 20 yards or extra with 52. However a lot of that was completed with runs after the catch. The Chiefs have been final in air yards on such performs, indicating receivers weren’t getting open a lot down the sphere.
“Having [Worthy] and Hollywood and Travis [Kelce] and Rashee I believe goes to be actually thrilling,” common supervisor Brett Veach mentioned. “He is a man that I believe can do so much for us. There is a premium on this league on pace and playmaking means and he has that. So I believe the imaginative and prescient for him is we’ve got him for 5 years now and that is an enormous deal for us as we attempt to hold this factor collectively and add items. These playmakers are exhausting to come back by they usually’re costly within the offseason.”
Whereas Worthy confirmed on the rookie camp he’s extra than simply quick, it is his pace that’s instantly eye-catching. On the deep cross, Worthy was down the sphere so quick he needed to wait to get the ball from Oladokun, who had faked a handoff earlier than seeing Worthy open.
“He was already 50 yards down area,” Oladokun mentioned. “That is going to be one thing I believe he will do rather well on this offense.”
