The Kansas City Chiefs need to replace Sammy Watkins with Rashod Bateman in the NFL Draft.
With Sammy Watkins leaving for the Baltimore Ravens in his free agency, the Kansas City Chiefs need to replace the talented wide receiver with Rashod Bateman in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The AFC champion Chiefs will have the No. 31 overall pick this spring. Though there are other wide receivers they could potentially look at, guys like Florida’s Kadarius Toney and Purdue’s Rondale Moore could be coming off the board before Kansas City can even select them.
However, a player like Bateman could be exactly what Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the Chiefs need.
Rashod Bateman can become a star receiver in the Kansas City Chiefs offense
Prior to the 2020 college football season, Bateman was arguably the best wide receiver in the Big Ten, along with Moore at Purdue. The Tifton, Georgia native was a sure-fire, first-round pick before the age of the coronavirus. While he initially opted out of the season, Bateman briefly returned to the Minnesota Golden Gophers before ending his season prematurely to get ready for the draft.
What makes Bateman such an intriguing draft prospect for the Chiefs at No. 31 is simply this: Value. This is a highly productive college receiver with top-20 talent that will be coming off the board in the early 30s or 40s. To put him in the Chiefs offense as an at-best No. 3 receiving option behind Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill will go a long way towards him developing as a professional.
The Chiefs already have two other excellent complementary receivers in Mecole Hardman and Demarcus Robinson. While Watkins had his moments with the Chiefs, his career has been marred by injuries and has never lived up to lofty expectations coming out of Clemson. Ultimately, Bateman would make the most prolific passing offense in football even more compelling to watch.
Bateman to the Chiefs at No. 31 would signify the best offense getting better at what they do.