It was a down season for the Kansas City Chiefs, going 6-11 and missing out on a playoff spot for the first time since 2014. Patrick Mahomes was forced to watch the final three games on the sidelines after suffering a torn ACL in Week 15. With a ways to go in the recovery process, there's hope the two-time MVP will be back on the field early in the 2026 season.
When he is back on the field, the Chiefs' offense will look different. Two of the biggest differences will be the addition of former Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III and the loss of wide receiver Marquise Brown. After two seasons in Kansas City, Brown joined the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency.
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Last year, his 587 receiving yards were the second most on the team, while being tied for first in touchdowns (five). He's a considerable loss to a wide receiver corps that already struggled in 2025. To try to replace his production, Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling predicts the Chiefs will select UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell with the No. 109 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
After three seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers (2021 to 2023) and two with UConn (2024 to 2025), Bell put together his best year in 2025. He earned first-team AP All-America honors with 101 receptions, 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns. His Pro Football Focus overall grade of 81.8 ranked 43rd out of 679 wide receivers.
With tight end Travis Kelce returning for his 14th season, Mahomes will once again have one of his favorite targets. However, he's at the back end of his career, meaning finding new receiving threats is crucial.
The last time the Chiefs had a wide receiver hit the 1,000-yard mark was Tyreek Hill in 2021. Adding Bell would give Kansas City a new option at a position they've recently struggled to find consistency at.
