The Kansas City Chiefs are almost certain to add to their wide receiver room in this month’s draft, but information on any wide receiver the team might be considering has been surprisingly scarce.
On Wednesday, word leaked that the Chiefs had A meeting is scheduled with Arkansas wide receiver Jadon Haslewood.
hasselwood, A former five-star recruitI played three seasons in Oklahoma. Unfortunately, he never lived up to his prestigious recruiting pedigree. After head coach Lincoln Riley (and quarterback Caleb Williams) left the Sooners for USC, Hasselwood moved to Arkansas – where he led the Razorbacks with 702 yards in 2022.
Here’s what you need to know about Haselwood:
background
From Cedar Grove High School in Ellenwood, Georgia, Haselwood was the best high school receiver in the country in 2019. After He reportedly received 17 offers, stick to Oklahoma. There he played as a freshman before He tore his anterior cruciate ligament in preparation for the 2020 season. He missed the first eight games of the season.
As a redshirt sophomore in 2021, Haslewood Total receiving yards were 399 and six touchdowns While he was level with Williams, who was the first rusher to the top overall pick of the 2024 draft. After transferring to Arkansas, he had his best statistical season of 2022, Catching 59 passes for 702 yards and three touchdowns.
In the NFLHaslewood Check-in at 6-foot-2 and 215 lbs and a 10-inch hand. Size is its most desirable attribute. While his 4.66-second 40-yard dash is a red flag for a wide receiver, his vertical jump of 37 inches and wide jump of 10-foot-3 She is more respectful of the position.
Film rating
Arkansas WR Jadon Haselwood is pure lottery ticket. A 5-star draftee in 2019, he was frustrated in college with an injury and a coaching change at Oklahoma. Arkansas’ offense in 2022 hasn’t been great for receivers, but this move against Alabama shows the potential is still there. pic.twitter.com/Sl6GYg6lsF
– Jared Sapp (TrumanChief) April 13, 2023
After moving to Arkansas, Haselwood became heavy on animated plays or short targets in space. He is not an explosive player. He’s far enough from a 2020 ACL tear that his speed numbers probably paint a clear picture of what to expect in the NFL. He has excellent vision with the ball in his hands – and it’s hard to handle.
In the no-size draft class at wide receiver, teams will look to Jadon Haselwood due to his 6’2, 215-pound frame. He can use that size to make a high pass as in this touchdown against Cincinnati. pic.twitter.com/TUtxvbjjKK
– Jared Sapp (TrumanChief) April 13, 2023
Much has been written about the general lack of size among the large numbers in the 2023 draft class. But among the late picks, Haselwood stands out. His large frame allows him to make lofty passes at defenders – and it may be the one trait that has kept him on the radars of the draft.
He reportedly selected the chiefs of Arkansas and . R Jadon Hasselwood Unofficial visit. Although his time of 4.66 40 overs will likely propel him into the late rounds or undrafted, KC will be fascinated by his intelligence with the ball in his hands and potential on hardware. pic.twitter.com/12ZFw6ZObg
– Jared Sapp (TrumanChief) April 13, 2023
Although his Test numbers are no mirage, Haselwood’s vision (and ability to break down tackles) make him a dangerous receiver. No one would mistake former Kansas City wide receiver Mikul Hardman for a flying sweep, but his size can make such a play work. Considering that defenses are pretty sold out defending against Arkansas’ running offense, his success on this play is particularly impressive.
Haselwood’s outside kick to make it in the NFL is a great opening (even though he has the size and attributes that KC used as an X receiver). He balances well throughout the play so as not to fall and make something out of nothing against a tough Crimson Tide defense. pic.twitter.com/qjSdsQta61
– Jared Sapp (TrumanChief) April 13, 2023
For a slower receiver to have any chance of getting into the NFL, he needs to be able to stay on his feet and break up tackles. While Hasselwood’s college career can best be described as a disappointment, he shows good balance while catching tricky passes – and rarely is a top defender able to bring him down on his own.
It’s no surprise that Haselwood Road Tree is even better in 2021 when it’s paired with Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams. He also demonstrated the ability to help a QB extend plays. The defense sold to prevent Williams from taking off, and found Hasselwood out of script in the end zone pic.twitter.com/p0N9klL1YB
– Jared Sapp (TrumanChief) April 14, 2023
While his raw stats were better at Arkansas, Hasselwood looked like an NFL player at Oklahoma, getting a variety of runs on Riley’s offense. Although his pairing with Williams on the Sooners offense was short-lived, Haselwood showed good potential working with an unpredictable quarterback to extend plays.
How does it fit in with the bosses
After signing free agent wide receiver Richie James – and with subsequent running back Justin Watson – the Chiefs seem less likely to throw numbers at the wide receiver as they did with the secondary in 2022. And it’s likely that Kansas City will prioritize a higher-profile prospect to anchor the room. .
That said, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Chiefs use a late round pick over Haselwood – or, perhaps more likely, prioritize him as an undrafted free agent. Any team with a flyer will see their highlights against the top competition and hope their staff can recreate what they displayed in their wildly popular high school days. General Manager Brett Fitch is, after all, famous for buying low-key from former top talent.
Prior to the 2022 draft, the Chiefs hosted a somewhat similar player: Texas Tech Wide receiver Eric Ezukanma. While the former Red Raider was tougher than Haselwood as a road runner, he boasted much better athletic traits – which led to his selection by Miami Dolphin In the fourth round. If the Chiefs are interested in putting a bigger body into some tailored plays for head coach Andy Reid’s trademark, then a minimal investment in a player like Haselwood wouldn’t be surprising.
bottom line
With a major injury during his college career—then the most notable collegiate coaching change in recent history—Haselwood has had some bad luck. With no notable value to special teams, his path to the NFL is very narrow. However, his size (and footballing intelligence) should keep him on the sidelines of the league for a while; Teams may want to keep him on their practice squads so he can emulate the larger opposition receivers on scouting teams. Once he’s there, he can put forward his case for a new chance.