In the era of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs built their corps of wide receivers around former players. He has been an asset in his development, but his contract numbers could now not be more appropriate to his boundless value.
That means the team needs to get the go-to receivers through the draft—but their first attempt fell flat: Mecole Hardman left 2019 in the second round in free agency this offseason. He simply could not evolve into anything more than the explosive yet limited weapon he had as a beginner.
General Manager Brett Veitch’s next attempt at drafting a dynamic receiver occurred for Mahomes last season: wide receiver Skyy Moore was taken with the 54th pick. Over 20 games in his rookie season, he totaled 298 yards and power Landing.
With his sophomore season on the horizon, I took a closer look at Moore’s performance in 2022 to see what a breakout year could look like:
Find a role
As a junior, Moore fit into the fielding lineup any way he could: taking tackles on a fly, working the fast screen game as a receiver or blocker, even returning punts. His ability to do more than just run traditional receiving lanes allowed him to see more out of the field than a wide receiver who didn’t have those skills.
Skye has a downhill, solid run after the catch that KC loved in WR (Sammy, then Juju) during the Mahomes era
He’s not as built as they used to be, but he’s explosive enough to run through arm tackles and finish plays forward pic.twitter.com/jwR1Sjn4gG
—Ron Kopp Jr. (Ron_Kopp) June 11, 2023
On offense, some of Moore’s most productive plays came on quick passes that put him in space with blockers. He maximizes these opportunities because he is an explosive runner; Historically, a 1.46-second 10-yard division is Recorded at the 2022 NFL Combine, his percentage was 97th among wide receiver prospects. He can rip through running lanes and pull off arm tackles and ankle swipes because he has some strength at 195 pounds in a 5-foot-9 frame.
It’s similar to what the Chiefs valued in receivers like Sammy Watkins in the past, or Juju Smith-Schuster last year: stronger players who can turn into running backs after catches. Moore wasn’t as physically built as he was, but he did have some of that ability.
# heads Year Two WR Skyy Moore could break out in 2023, which could fill some of the voids left by Juju’s departure
Like the reliable catch from the middle and towards the sideline. Moore doesn’t waste his 10- and 4-inch hands, holding smoothly away from the body. Just one drop on 42 tgts pic.twitter.com/A6tXb2KkZg
—Ron Kopp Jr. (Ron_Kopp) June 11, 2023
At the same time, Moore has shown great, natural hands so far in his young career. according to pffHe had just one touchdown on 42 goals, the lowest touchdown rate of every receiver on the team besides JuJu Smith-Schuster. When you watch him fetch the ball, he has no problem extending his arms out of his frame and quickly bringing them back in to become a ball-carrier.
he is too with a hand size of 10 1/4 inch, Which was in the 94th percentile for wide receiver prospects last year.
Not only does he look confident in his hands, but he also has the strength to communicate through contact or just physical covering. It is slightly denser than some receivers its size, which allows it to absorb contact better.
In general, he can deliver a lot of what Smith-Schuster specializes in last season.
Connect with Mahomes
Now that we understand the foundation of his role, we should see him take steps to build on it and become a reliable option for Mahomes. This is a move that Hardman could not complete in his four years here.
It’s important to see progress in 15 & Skyy’s Alchemy Field. In 4 years with Mikul, their relationship never seemed to get any stronger
A scramble from last year shows flashes of the duo being on the same page. Skyy works to throw windows on both plays pic.twitter.com/VKbcvTMRma
—Ron Kopp Jr. (Ron_Kopp) June 11, 2023
Mahomes and Moore built their chemistry last year by executing scramble drills on a few occasions. In both plays, Moore deviates from his original path once he recognizes that the play has gone off script and makes his way to a pitching window that Mahomes can reach.
This was probably the most impressive connection between 15 and Skyy last year
From the opening, Skyy runs inside the outer covering, then bends around the CB & Unbalanced bursts are now sidelined
Nice ball from a distance. Skyy shifts up and slides through the ankle seamlessly pic.twitter.com/EbLhK6JjCw
—Ron Kopp Jr. (Ron_Kopp) June 11, 2023
This was perhaps the most impressive link between last season. The highlight is Mahomes throwing a rope shot onto an outfield from the opposite hash mark, but Moore’s wide class makes the completion possible. After being released to the inside of the corner and making a turn in that direction, Moore leaned out; His acceleration out of the turn resulted in the throwing window.
On the flip side, there’s a couple playing where 15 misses Skyy. Both seem to be on the Pat, which could be explainable as he doesn’t have the same muscle memory he does with other WRs
First play, Skyy runs perpendicular to the option path, incorrectly reads 15 safetys and throws a sit pic.twitter.com/Ph9LF512IR
—Ron Kopp Jr. (Ron_Kopp) June 11, 2023
Even when Moore did nothing wrong, the novelty of the relationship between him and Mahomes may have led to some missteps – like this first time. With the defense turned into one safety coverage, Moore’s drive should go upright, but Mahomes throws it as if he expects to sit. Muscle memory has to ramp up to connect with Moore.
Natural improvements
Some small things Skyy could naturally improve on as the second year player includes his sense of the ways
Play 1: Doesn’t run by holding the mile, settles down a bit after the initial track break
Play 2: This time, he didn’t settle enough in space, making it harder for the 15 to throw the ball pic.twitter.com/guCCFY2iKQ
—Ron Kopp Jr. (Ron_Kopp) June 11, 2023
Of course, Moore will get better at a few things now that he’s enjoyed the season’s experience. I think we’ll see a better sense of his ways, knowing when to speed up and settling into space. On the first play here, he simply doesn’t run across the diagonal path — he settles subtly when he expects the ball.
Hitting the right milestones on the tracks is another aspect that would naturally improve for any second-year WR.
Here, you see Skyy managing deep curls that are thrown short. If you watch the road, it plummets at the correct depth, but drifts too far by the time it turns pic.twitter.com/GOncRvJHi0
—Ron Kopp Jr. (Ron_Kopp) June 12, 2023
He will also naturally improve at being meticulous in his ways. On this play, Moore drifts too far down the field after his initial collapse at the top of the road, resulting in a pass at his feet. If he were tighter towards his teacher, the ball would probably be low – but in his hands to complete it at the sticks.
bottom line
The Chiefs must strike their draft picks at a wide receiver. Moore is only a second chance to do so in the Mahomes era, but it’s still important to see some form of breakthrough from him this season.
In my view, he can fulfill much of the role that Smith-Schuster played last season, which turned the veteran into the team’s leading wide receiver. That doesn’t mean Moore will top the team’s depth chart, but it does mean he could have a very consistent and important role.
The most important thing to watch will be his relationship with Mahomes. If the two can build a chemistry beyond Moore’s descending role, it will be a sign of a real breakout.