Chiefs have had two of the best Super Bowl-winning rookie wide receivers of all time

There is a narrative amongst Kansas City Chiefs fans that Brett Veach, the general manager, doesn’t draft wide receivers very well, but everything else he is spot on. Look at the past drafts he has had, specifically last season’s, which involved the secondary we see today, as well as George Karlaftis and several others. He hit the nail on the head with that one.

The narrative is somewhat true, especially when you look at the players Patrick Mahomes has had to throw to the last two years. Somehow, he has made it work, which is the biggest reason he is even getting “G.O.A.T.” consideration.

However, there is some falseness to that narrative as well. It’s not completely true, especially in the last few years. And, no, he didn’t draft Travis Kelce or Tyreek Hill. That was John Dorsey. Veach was the one to draft and trade up for Patrick Mahomes with the Buffalo Bills, but that is a different story for a different time.

Veach was hired as the general manager in 2017. Since then, Veach has drafted Jehu Chesson (Michigan), Tremon Smith (Central Arkansas), Mecole Hardman (Georgia), Cornell Powell (Clemson), Skyy Moore (Central Michigan), and Rashee Rice (S.M.U.) all since being the general manager.

It’s easy to look at that list and see that only one has been amazing in Rashee Ricve. However, when you get past how their careers have gone in the regular season and look a bit deeper, it’s clear the Chiefs have had two of the best Super Bowl-winning wide receivers of all time.

According to Scott Kacsmar, the Kansas City Chiefs do have two of the best Super Bowl-winning wide receivers of all time, especially when you factor in yards in a season by rookies who would later go on to win the Super Bowl.

Most receiving yards by a rookie on a Super Bowl-winning team, N.F.L. history

1. Rashee Rice, 2023 Chiefs – 938
2. Torry Holt, 1999 Rams – 788
3. Charlie Brown, 1982 Redskins – 690
4. Mecole Hardman, 2019 Chiefs – 538
5. Heath Miller, 2005 Steelers – 459

Rice was huge in the Super Bowl, as he was all year long. His big reception for a first down on third down was about as good as it gets. Once he got into the postseason, he was no longer a rookie, and you could see that in his play. The Chiefs have something special in him.
Now, do the Chiefs need to continue to draft wide receivers? Of course. But. Let’s stop underestimating some of the things Veach has done in terms of roster construction. Without Veach, there is a big chance the Chiefs do not have four Super Bowls right now. Without Veach, they don’t have Patrick Mahomes.