The Kansas City Chiefs have several position battles that fans need to pay attention to now that mandatory minicamp is over and we’re rapidly approaching training camp.
Left tackle between Josh Simmons and Jaylon Moore should be the focal point, though it’ll be interesting to see what happens at the back end of the cornerback room as well. That said, wide receiver might be the most intriguing battle to watch the rest of the summer.
Wideout Tyquan Thornton has shined so far, and he’s certainly a threat to make the 53-man roster at this point. However, that’s creating a headache for the organization as general manager Brett Veach now has a difficult decision to make.
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Chiefs WR Tyquan Thornton Causing Headaches for KC (But in a Good Way)
Originally a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, Thornton has 4.28 40-yard dash speed and perfectly fits what the franchise wants out of its wide receivers. He’s had limited production thus far in his career, notching just 39 catches for 385 yards and two TDs, though he represents the exact kind of diamond in the rough that Veach covets.
The headache comes from the logjam at receiver the Chiefs now have. Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, and Jalen Royals are locks to make the roster. One would assume that JuJu Smith-Schuster is too, thanks to his blocking, though it’s no sure thing, which leaves one or two spots for Thornton, Skyy Moore, Nikko Remigio, and Justyn Ross.
Kansas City kept seven wideouts in 2024 but that was an abnormality, and a similar competition at running back could reduce the team to just six receivers this year. If that happens, Thornton is giving Veach and head coach Andy Reid a very difficult decision to make.
Reid has sang Thornton’s praises. He’s dealt with injuries in recent years that have limited him to 15 games in two seasons, yet he appears healthy now and has Mahomes’ trust. Provided he keeps things up, Thornton is a threat to steal a job from one of the Chiefs’ veterans.
