{"id":181624,"date":"2026-04-29T12:53:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T12:53:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=181624"},"modified":"2026-04-29T12:53:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T12:53:02","slug":"watch-this-name-undrafted-rookie-wr-is-quietly-forcing-his-way-onto-the-chiefs-roster-the-surprise-competition-no-one-saw-coming-this-training-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=181624","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWatch This Name: Undrafted Rookie WR Is Quietly Forcing His Way onto the Chiefs Roster \u2014 The Surprise Competition No One Saw Coming This Training Camp\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"post-featured-container-id\">\n<div id=\"post-featured\">\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Andy-Reid-Patrick-Mahomes.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 95vw, 780px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Andy-Reid-Patrick-Mahomes.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780 780w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Andy-Reid-Patrick-Mahomes.jpg?quality=15&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Andy-Reid-Patrick-Mahomes.jpg?quality=35&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1350 1350w\" alt=\"Undrafted Rookie Chiefs WR Expected to Compete for Roster Spot\" width=\"780\" height=\"439\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>Getty<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Kansas City Chiefs were expected to make some big additions to their wide receiver room in the NFL draft, but made only one late pick to address their needs in the passing game.<\/p>\n<p>That could pave the way for a talented undrafted rookie to compete for a roster spot, one analyst predicts. The Athletic\u2019s Jesse Newell broke down the team\u2019s expected depth chart after the end of the draft, predicting that rookie Jeff Caldwell could get some very important looks over the coming weeks.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Jeff Caldwell\u2019s Big Shot<\/h2>\n<p>In his initial depth chart, Newell predicted that the top is solidified with Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton in the top spots. It gets a bit softer after that, with Jalen Royals, Nikko Remigio, Jason Brownlee, and fifth-round pick Cyprus Allen competing for the remaining spots.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAre the Chiefs still a body or two short?\u201d Newell questioned.<\/p>\n<p>The relative lack of depth could give Caldwell a real chance to make the roster, Newell wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was surprising that the team didn\u2019t use a top-three-round draft pick on a receiver, which could become a glaring need in 2027 if the team doesn\u2019t re-sign Rice,\u201d Newell noted. \u201cEven as it stands, the Chiefs\u2019 depth chart looks awfully thin at a position that tends to see a high number of injuries. Expect Jeff Caldwell \u2014 an undrafted free-agent signing out of Cincinnati \u2014 to get plenty of attention over the next few weeks for this reason.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Jeff Caldwell Seen as \u2018Development Project\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>Caldwell is seen as an intriguing prospect, with NFL.com draft expert Lance Zierlein predicting he could grow into an above-average backup.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cCaldwell is a developmental prospect with enticing traits and a need for better fundamentals,\u201d Zierlein wrote. \u201cHe\u2019s a long-strider with the ability to create separation vertically, but his route-running is underdeveloped and he needs tutoring on how best to set up routes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Zierlein wrote that Caldwell will have to improve his catch rate, with some work ahead of him at the NFL level.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCaldwell\u2019s contested-catch rate is disappointing for a player with his size and ability,\u201d Zierlein wrote. \u201cCoaching should help create more advantages in that area, but he might need to ratchet up his competitiveness on 50\/50 balls, as well. His production at Cincinnati won\u2019t excite, but his NFL Scouting Combine performance shows there could be more upside to unlock, which makes him worthy of a middle-round pick as a backup \u2018Z\u2019 receiver.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Chiefs have already erased two of the biggest question marks among their pass-catchers, which could pave the way for someone like Caldwell to develop on the practice squad. Tight end Travis Kelce opted against retirement, deciding to return for another season in 2025.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com\/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSEJ2p6QoP6JdXkI1sprwMSe6CtpXb_UvYjYw&amp;s\" alt=\"2026 NFL Draft: Kansas City Chiefs' undrafted free agent signings, rookie  minicamp tryout tracker\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Rice also got some good news when the NFL announced that he would not face a suspension after being accused of domestic assault. Rice missed the first six games of the 2025 season while suspended for a street-racing incident where he pleaded guilty to felony charges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Getty The Kansas City Chiefs were expected to make some big additions to their wide receiver room in the NFL draft, but made only one late pick&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":181625,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-181624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>\u201cWatch This Name: Undrafted Rookie WR Is Quietly Forcing His Way onto the Chiefs Roster \u2014 The Surprise Competition No One Saw Coming This Training Camp\u201d - 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