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Elijhah Badger may be the crown jewel of the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 undrafted free-agent class, a group that includes 16 prospects so far.
The wideout started his collegiate career at Arizona State, leading the Sun Devils in receiving yardage for both the 2022 and 2023 seasons. After transferring to Florida last year, the talented pass-catcher didn’t skip a beat and finished with a team-high 806 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 39 catches.
Rated as the No. 224 overall prospect and No. 30 wideout on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department’s Big Board, Badger possesses plenty of qualities professional teams covet for their receiving corps.
During his trip to the scouting combine, he showed he has adequate size (measuring in at 6’1”, 200 lbs) and solid athleticism (running a 4.43-second 40-yard dash and posting a 35.5” vertical leap) to go along with his proven production.
He may not be a burner or as physically dominant at the next level, but working in an offense led by Patrick Mahomes should make the transition easy for the young pass-catcher.
Badger projects as an ideal WR4 in Kansas City’s system, a player who may not emerge as a starter but one who can make good things happen during the handful of times he will touch the ball every Sunday.
The Chiefs have a relatively deep receiving corps—Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown are locked in as the top three—but there’s room for more competition.
Veterans such as JuJu Smith-Schuster, Skyy Moore and Justyn Ross are set to battle with fourth-round rookie Jalen Royals for a spot in the pecking order during training camp, but Badger should be right in the mix with a real chance to slip into one of the final roster spots with a promising camp showing.
Even if he doesn’t make the initial cut, Badger would be a major asset for the practice squad. He could even see a quick promotion to the active roster if the injury bug plagues the Kansas City receivers room the way it has in recent years.
Badger’s odds to make final roster: 20 percent
Is the offensive line actually fortified? Retaining Trey Smith was wise, and rock-solid anchor Creed Humphrey remains at center. But they’re betting a lot on rookie Josh Simmons as a short- and long-term left tackle for Patrick Mahomes, considering their answer to a Super Bowl flop was dealing All-Pro Joe Thuney and signing a career reserve in Jaylon Moore.
Jake Briningstool reveals the reason he signed with the Chiefs | Chiefs Wire
He spoke with reporters last weekend about getting a phone call from head coach Andy Reid, which influenced his decision to sign a contract.
“That was pretty unique to hear, which kind of really stood out to me, just showing how much they valued me, how much they cared.” Said Briningstool, “So I think that’s really what stuck out about here.”
During his last three seasons at Clemson, Briningstool caught 124 passes for 1,313 yards and 16 touchdowns. He expressed a desire to learn from Travis Kelce if he can secure a spot on the team.
“Yeah, I mean, obviously, you know what Travis has been able to do. I think it’s very appealing to somebody that plays tight end.” said Briningstool, “I think just being able to come in here and learn from him, learn from the other guys that really play at a high level, and just be able to, come in here and use my skill set and, see how I can make an impact.”
2025 NFL Draft: Fantasy Football Winners & Losers | Sharp Football
Fantasy Football Winner: Isiah Pacheco
Like Swift, Pacheco escaped draft weekend with his team only adding a seventh-round pick to the running back room – Brashard Smith.
Smith profiles as a passing-down back more than a real threat to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart, and Kansas City’s only other offseason addition was the perennially injured Elijah Mitchell.
All of that is promising, but Pacheco will simply have to be better this year than he was after returning from injury in 2024 to establish himself as the lead back.
Among 52 qualified running backs from Week 13 on last season, Pacheco ranked 49th in yards per touch, 45th in rate of gaining five yards or more per carry, and 51st in rate of gaining 10 yards or more per carry.
The extremely fair response to those numbers is he was recovering from an in-season injury, and we have seen Pacheco be more explosive in the past.
Still, the fact the Chiefs drafted Smith (4.39 40) and signed Mitchell (13.5% career explosive run rate) suggests they are looking for more big plays in the running game.
Pacheco will need to prove he can deliver those, but his arrow is still pointing up coming out of the draft.
Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 2021 AFC divisional playoff game
In the 2021 AFC Divisional round, the Buffalo Bills were feeling good when a 19-yard touchdown pass by Josh Allen gave them a 36-33 lead with just 13 seconds remaining. But for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, that was enough time.
Two quick completions got Kansas City into field goal range and a 48-yard field goal by Harrison Butker sent the game into overtime. The Chiefs got the ball first in overtime, Mahomes drove them right down the field, tossing an eight-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce to clinch the victory and shock Allen and the Bills.
One reason for optimism for all 32 teams after the 2025 NFL Draft, free agency | CBS Sports
In the same vein as Josh Allen earlier, when it comes to pinpointing a reason for optimism with the Kansas City Chiefs, it seems silly not to simply mention Mahomes. So long as he’s healthy, they are firmly in the Super Bowl mix. Fortunately for the future Hall of Famer, the Chiefs did make necessary moves this offseason to keep him upright, adding offensive tackles Jaylon Moore in free agency and Josh Simmons in the first round of the NFL Draft. If Mahomes isn’t running for his life like he was during Super Bowl LIX and is afforded just some time to throw, Kansas City will likely find itself hosting the AFC Championship.
Ranking NFL Offenses: Kansas City Chiefs No. 11 | SI
11. Kansas Chiefs Fantasy Outlook
In 2023, Patrick Mahomes was outscored by seven quarterbacks, followed by a lower QB ranking last season (11th). He gained a career-low 6.8 yards per pass attempt, with a severe decline in his completion of 20 (40 – 50 in 2023 and 73 in 2022) and 40 (4 – 8 in 2023 and 13 in 2022) yards or more. Over his 19 starts (including the postseason), Mahomes passed for 300 yards three times but never reached 350 yards.
Despite his regression, the high-stakes fantasy market projects him as a top six quarterback. His receiving weapon should be better, and the Chiefs invested in RT Josh Simmons in the first round of this year’s draft to help their run game and Mahomes’s passing window.
Around the NFL
Sheduer Sanders will wear No. 12 for Browns | NBC Sports
The Browns announced that Sanders has been issued No. 12 for his rookie season. Safety Rodney McLeod wore that number last season and it has also been worn by wide receiver Josh Gordon and quarterback Vinny Testaverde in the past.
Sanders wore No. 2 at Colorado, but that number has been given to wide receiver DeAndre Carter, who signed with the team this offseason.
The Browns also announced the numbers of two other quarterbacks who joined the team this offseason. Third-round pick Dillon Gabriel will wear No. 5 and Kenny Pickett will wear No. 8. Joe Flacco will be back in the No. 15 he wore in his first stint with the Browns.
Giants’ Thibodeaux excited, not worried, about top pick Carter | ESPN
The Giants took Abdul Carter with the third pick in this year’s draft, adding him to a talented outside linebackers room that includes Thibodeaux, the No. 5 pick in 2022, and Pro Bowler Brian Burns. That doesn’t concern Thibodeaux, who had the fifth-year option in his rookie contract officially exercised last week.
“I think [Carter’s] a great player. We can use him in a lot of different ways,” said Thibodeaux, who was honored on Tuesday night at the Gridiron Gala as a hometown hero by the United Way of New York City for the work he has done in the community with his JREAM Foundation. “I’m excited to see him come in and grind and [see] what we’re going to get.”
The Gridiron Gala is the United Way of New York City’s top fundraising event each year. It raises millions of dollars.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs Draft: Jalen Royals has similarities to new teammate Rashee Rice
Film evaluation
There are similarities on film, too. Like Rice, Royals’ best attributes come when he has the ball in his hands. Unlike Rice, Royals doesn’t look like he’s been shot out of a cannon — but he can juke and make guys miss in space even better than Rice can; he can break tackles in more creative ways.
Neither player had a deep route tree in college. At Utah State, Royals mostly ran vertical, hitch or screen routes and run-pass options; the Aggies were focused on quickly getting the ball to their best weapon with blockers in front of him.
The biggest difference between Rice and Royals is in downfield route running. At SMU, Rice wasn’t proficient in downfield routes — and that has continued in Kansas City, where he’s best on horizontal routes and leveraging his quick twitch. But Royals has more deep speed— and generally is a better downfield route runner.
While Royals must work on consistently beating press coverage, I find it very exciting that at 205 pounds, he plays strong through contact. He played outside in more than 80% of his reps last season — and even with his limited route tree, he’s comfortable in that part of the field.
Royals’ biggest weakness is his route tree. There just wasn’t much variation in how Utah State used him — partly because the team had to give him easy touches for its offense to work — but in the NFL, Royals will need to do more. While there’s no reason he can’t improve, it will nonetheless be a process. His film also shows some drops — but these can also be cleaned up.
Jalen Royals Healthy 12 Game Pace?
➖94 Receptions
➖1,438 Yards
➖10 TD’s
Reminder that he’s just ONE season removed from scoring 15 TD’s..
➖6’0, 205 lbs
➖3.00 YPRR
Jalen Royals was on pace for 29 Missed Tackles Forced..
The only WR with more?
Luther Burden III (30).. pic.twitter.com/vr4zNSaKvy
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) February 25, 2025
Social media to make you think
Xavier Worthy
Strong Rookie Finish Weeks 15-17
– 21.0 Fantasy Points/Game (WR10)
– Averaged 10+ Targets/Game
Key To KC Playoff Run
– 85% Snaps Played
– 1.0 TD/Game
Locked In Chiefs Starting WR.
HIGH UPSIDE Fantasy Football Draft Pick. pic.twitter.com/j3myD20e6t
— No Expert Fantasy Football (@NoExpertFF) May 5, 2025
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