Let’s be real: looking at the KC wide receiver depth chart right now feels a bit like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube in the dark. If you’re a Chiefs fan, you’ve probably spent the last week staring at the 2026 roster projections and wondering if Patrick Mahomes—who is currently rehabbing a torn ACL—is going to have anyone besides a 36-year-old Travis Kelce to throw to. Assuming Kelce even stays.
The 2025 season was, honestly, a mess. Between injuries and the kind of inconsistency that makes you want to throw your remote at the TV, the receiver room in Kansas City has become a massive question mark. We’re sitting in January 2026, and the "dynasty" feels like it's at a crossroads.
The Reality of the KC Wide Receiver Depth Chart
Right now, if you look at who is actually under contract for the 2026 season, it’s a short list. A very short list. You basically have Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Jalen Royals. That’s it. That’s the tweet.
Everyone else? They’re either pending free agents or guys signed to "reserve/future" contracts which, let's be honest, are basically just invitations to training camp with no guarantees.
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Rashee Rice: The Star with a Giant Asterisk
Rashee Rice is the most talented receiver on this roster. Period. But man, the baggage is getting heavy. He’s entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2026, and while he’s technically eligible for an extension, it’s hard to imagine Brett Veach opening the checkbook just yet.
After serving a six-game suspension to start 2025 and dealing with a mountain of legal allegations—including recent domestic abuse accusations from an ex-girlfriend—Rice is a high-risk, high-reward asset. On the field, he’s the chain-mover. Off the field, he's a headache. If the NFL decides to drop another suspension hammer in 2026, the depth chart collapses instantly.
Xavier Worthy: Is He Just Mecole Hardman 2.0?
People love to compare Xavier Worthy to Tyreek Hill because of that 4.21 speed, but 2025 showed us he’s not there yet. Not even close. He finished last season with 1,170 yards, which looks great on paper, but the consistency was maddening. He’d have a 25-point fantasy game and then disappear for three weeks.
He’s a vertical threat, but the Chiefs need him to become a complete receiver. If Mahomes is sidelined for the start of 2026, Worthy has to prove he can produce with a backup like Chris Oladokun or whoever the Chiefs bring in to bridge the gap.
The "Gone" List: Hollywood and JuJu
If you’re still holding out hope for Marquise "Hollywood" Brown or JuJu Smith-Schuster, I’ve got some bad news. Their time in KC is basically over. Hollywood’s tenure was plagued by injuries and a lack of that "magic" we expected with Mahomes. JuJu provided some veteran stability, but he’s not the long-term answer.
They are both pending free agents, and with the Chiefs needing to get younger and cheaper (and frankly, better), expect them to walk.
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The New Faces and Future Bets
This is where it gets interesting. The Chiefs have already started making moves for the 2026 offseason by signing a handful of guys to reserve/future deals.
- Jalen Royals: A 2025 fourth-round pick who spent time on the IR. He’s a wild card.
- Jimmy Holiday: An undrafted rookie who spent 2025 bouncing on and off the practice squad. He has return ability, which Dave Toub loves, but can he actually run a route?
- Andrew Armstrong: Another reserve/future signing. He’s a big body, something this room desperately lacks.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Roster
The biggest misconception is that the Chiefs just need "another speedster." They don't. They have speed. What they lack is a "Bully."
They need a guy who can win a 50/50 ball on 3rd and 7 when the play breaks down. They need a Jakobi Meyers or a Garrett Wilson type—someone who just gets open and catches everything. Right now, the KC wide receiver depth chart is built on "potential" and "speed," but it's missing "reliability."
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
If you’re tracking how the Chiefs fix this, watch these three specific areas:
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- The Draft: Look for KC to target a "X" receiver in the first two rounds. Someone like Jordyn Tyson from Arizona State has been linked to them in early mocks.
- Free Agency: Keep an eye on Alec Pierce. He’s a vertical threat who can actually win contested catches—something Worthy doesn't do consistently.
- The Trade Market: Don't rule out a big swing for a disgruntled vet. If a team like the Jets or Falcons starts a fire sale, Veach will be the first one on the phone.
The next few months are going to be wild. With Mahomes coming off an ACL tear and the receiver room in total flux, the 2026 Chiefs might look completely different than the team that won those Super Bowls.
To stay ahead of the curve, monitor the NFL transaction wire starting in March. That's when these reserve contracts convert and the real free agency frenzy begins. If the Chiefs don't add at least two proven starters, it’s going to be a long year in Arrowhead.