Why did Chiefs draft Xavier Worthy? Inside the meeting he aced — and chaos he created
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Xavier Worthy had just exited the luxury suite at Lucas Oil Stadium, and Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach couldn’t hold back his excitement.
The Texas receiver had just aced his test.
This was at March’s NFL Combine in Indianapolis, and Worthy’s 18 formal minutes with the Chiefs coaches and scouts had gone better than anyone in the room had anticipated.
“It’s one of those things where everyone just was looking at each other,” Veach said, “saying, ‘That’s a really good interview.’”
We all know how this story eventually turned out.
KC traded up to select Worthy with the 28th pick in April’s NFL Draft. The rookie is set to make his debut Thursday in the NFL’s season opener against Baltimore, with those around him already raving about his game-breaking speed and ability.
“You bring him in, it’s like that new toy,” added offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.
“We’re really opening up the playbook to him,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes said, “and he’s learning.”
Only Veach, however, knows the full backstory of how Worthy landed with the Chiefs.
And how the dream of landing him seemed to end just 24 hours after he left that suite.
Trouble for the Chiefs
Veach pulled out his phone, sending a three-word group text to Nagy, coach Andy Reid and Chiefs pass game coordinator Joe Bleymaier.
“Well,” he wrote, “he’s gone.”
The “he,” in this case, was Worthy, who just a day after interviewing with the Chiefs had set the news cycle ablaze.
The receiver, still at the NFL Combine, broke the NFL record for fastest 40-yard dash time.
Veach knew that was trouble for the Chiefs, who held the first round’s 32nd (and final) pick after winning Super Bowl LVIII.
“You’re not thinking you’re gonna have a shot at him,” Veach told The Star, “because he runs a 4.21.”
Chiefs coaches processed the news in different ways.
After receiving the text, Nagy reminded himself that sometimes this happens with prospects. Players often improve their stock while pricing themselves out of a team’s range.
“You figure, ‘OK, that’s how this goes,’” Nagy said. “You’ve got to have all your next guys up ready.”
Embree, meanwhile, watched Worthy’s 40-yard dash live from the team’s suite at Lucas Oil Stadium.
His first reaction: “Whoa.”
His second was more a dose of reality: “Uh oh.”
“You want him to run good, but you probably don’t want him to set the record. Because then everyone knows,” Embree said. “SportsCenter is playing it. Now, he’s the fastest guy ever.”
The timing of Worthy’s run was especially cruel, given how he’d wowed the Chiefs the previous day.
A reminder of the past
Even before Worthy’s interview, Nagy had taken it upon himself to do some extra research.
Worthy’s receivers coach at Texas, Chris Jackson, was a former assistant for Nagy when he coached the Chicago Bears. Jackson spoke extensively with Nagy about who Worthy was as a person, and also where he excelled in routes.
It only led Nagy further into his own study, where he kept seeing the same resemblance.
“Everyone kept talking, ‘Tyreek, Tyreek,’” Nagy said of outsiders comparing Worthy to the Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill, “but I think we all saw DeSean Jackson when you watched his tape.”
And no one understood how that type of receiver could help the Chiefs better than this particular coaching staff.
Jackson — born in California, like Worthy — had two of his three Pro Bowl seasons while playing under Reid in Philadelphia. Veach was on staff when the Eagles drafted him, and so was Nagy, a volunteer assistant with the team in 2008.
It seemed like more than happenstance — maybe even fate? — when Worthy started his Chiefs interview by saying Jackson was his favorite player to watch growing up.
“I know him well,” Reid quipped in response.
Worthy only continued to impress from there.
He explained his favorite play at Texas — “Dunkin’” (named after Dunkin’ Donuts) — and described all the nuances. The play-action pass — offensive line blocking one way, tight end blocking the other — called for a QB boot and some false acceleration on the route, all before Worthy put on the brakes for a 20-yard curl.
“I knew the reads. I knew what the quarterback was gonna do. I knew what the running back was gonna do. So I just understood the whole play,” Worthy later told the Star. “So I just wanted to show the play could work versus everything.”
Veach immediately saw something rare with Worthy’s processing. It was typical for college players to know their own roles, and perhaps the responsibility of someone else on the field.
But to understand the play’s whole concept? And what the coaching staff was trying to accomplish with each piece?
Worthy, without much effort, was making it clear how intelligent he was.
“Some guys can memorize a playbook. Some guys just understand football,” Veach said. “And I think from that time with him, we got a good feeling that he understood football and understood the concepts of not just the route, but why they’re running the route.”
From previous experience, Embree could tell when players were stringing coaches along while describing plays, or trying to fake insight they didn’t have.
Because of that, this explanation — one where Worthy not only remembered his coaching points and milestones on the field, but also where he was supposed to be at certain moments — led Embree to one conclusion.
Worthy was knocking it out of the park.
“Some people just have a natural feel for football, and some people have to work at it,” Embree said. “And he came off like he had a natural feel.”
Those details were essential as they related to the Chiefs.
Watching a player’s film, Embree said, is just the first step in evaluating receivers. The next step is determining whether guys can process all the Chiefs throw at them in offseason practices and training camp.
Embree could tell from the nods he got from other coaches when Worthy left the room: If somehow available, the wideout would fit right in with the Chiefs.
“We like to move people around. We’ve got a complicated playbook,” Embree said. “So basically, we just looked at each other like, ‘Yeah, he can do it. He can do what we’re probably going to ask him to do.’”
There was one obstacle left: figuring out if Worthy would last long enough in the first round for the Chiefs to make a play at him.
Even Worthy said goodbye to Chiefs coaches that day with a lingering thought in his mind.
“I knew I made an impression,” Worthy said, “but I just didn’t know if I was going to make it to them.”
‘Just hoping, fingers crossed’
The Chiefs receive 30 in-house and Zoom visits with prospects following the NFL Combine, and Veach decided the Chiefs would play a bit coy.
Worthy wasn’t scheduled to the team’s facility. There was no need.
“We were good,” Veach said.
The combine interview had sold the Chiefs on the receiver without needing any follow-up for confirmation. Now, it was a matter of seeing where his stock ended up.
Somewhat surprisingly — to KC, at least — Worthy’s 40 time hadn’t shot him higher up draft boards.
Questions remained league-wise about his size at 165 pounds. And also about his durability. Could he make it through an entire NFL season with his specific body type?
Data at GrindingTheMocks.com showed a rise in Worthy’s consensus mock-draft status after the 40-yard dash, but then a decline. Just before the draft, he was projected somewhere in the late first round — right where the Chiefs might have a chance with a trade.
It still only takes one team to be high on a player to make him unavailable. Embree entered the draft Thursday night thinking that Worthy-to-the-Chiefs remained an unlikely scenario.
“I thought we were gonna have to trade up too far to get him,” Embree said. “So when he kept falling, it was just hoping, fingers crossed, that he’d be there.”
Nagy, meanwhile, sat in the back of the Chiefs’ draft room in April as the picks unfolded — and as Worthy’s name remained on the board into the 20s.
The scramble started there. Veach got on the phone with the rival Buffalo Bills, then traded up from No. 32 to 28.
A few minutes later, the Chiefs had their guy, turning in their card to select Worthy.
In the draft room, Nagy couldn’t help but sense a mixture of joy — along with a bit of disbelief.
“There’s a temperature in the room of how good you feel, and it was pretty hot,” Nagy said. “Everyone was feeling really good.”
Now, of course, comes the critical part.
The Chiefs have to prove they were right.
What looms ahead
Worthy stood in front of his locker Sunday, explaining to reporters how he felt ahead of his first NFL game.
He’s comfortable with the Chiefs’ system, he says, and also understands what the team is trying to accomplish with its plays.
Most of all, though, he’s ready to get out there and show what he can do.
“I wouldn’t say it’s nerves,” Worthy said. “I just feel like I’m ready.”
Chiefs coaches are just as interested in seeing what happens following Worthy’s last few months.
Embree says in training camp the Chiefs didn’t just see Worthy’s 4.21 speed, they could feel it.
On the field, Embree could hear defensive backs talk to each other: “He’s fast. We gotta back up.”
Perhaps of greatest importance for Worthy, though, was that he never got lost mentally. Embree has had past rookie receivers struggle with getting out of the huddle, not able to process the play quickly enough to understand where they’re supposed to line up.
Worthy has had none of those issues.
“I’ve just been impressed with him, the football smartness,” Embree said.
Nagy, for one, knows how hard Worthy has worked to get to that understanding.
It started in May’s Organized Team Activities, when Worthy didn’t practice because of a hamstring issue.
That didn’t mean he took the time off. After plays, Worthy would often walk to Nagy on the field without a helmet and ask him questions about what his assignment would have been on a particular snap.
“I love that about him,” Nagy said. “He wants more.”
Worthy also flashed his potential at training camp, coming down with a few viral deep-ball catches on Mahomes passes — including one that literally sent Nagy dancing onto the field with arms flailing.
One can still understand the emotion — especially considering the team’s previous circumstances.
From “Well, he’s gone” to Chiefs starting receiver in six months, Worthy now has the chance to show the world what the Chiefs have long seen in him.
And also reward the faith of the team — from the very first interview — that valued him the most.
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Those 3, plus Kelce and Perine (plus Pacheco has evidently improved his pass-catching skills this offseason) are gonna be a real bitch to deal with.
I mean you can even toss Hardman in there for some of the gadget stuff to keep teams honest. Our 2 and 3 TE sets will be awfully dynamic in their own right.
This offense could be incredible. Like, "only held back by Andy not wanting to show his cards" kind of record-setting ability.
Pick your poison to the opposing defense. Literally. How do you want us to beat you today? Not so sure I can recall such a multi faceted offense. Possibly those New England offenses w Moss and Welker. [Reply]
I will fully admit to being initially slightly skeptical of the pick. I assumed that teams who knew how smart and savvy Worthy was would leap at getting that kind of guy with 4.21 speed. I figured since he fell to us he would be more John Ross than Desean Jackson.
Originally Posted by scho63:
Imagine if he is Tyreek 2.0 ?
He's built differently. He lacks some of Tryreek's quick twitch elusiveness...but, that's every other WR in football. With some time in the weight room and some experience...he could become that. Now, I think the Jackson comparison is more applicable though....which is fantastic, especially in Andy's offense. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Those 3, plus Kelce and Perine (plus Pacheco has evidently improved his pass-catching skills this offseason) are gonna be a real bitch to deal with.
I mean you can even toss Hardman in there for some of the gadget stuff to keep teams honest. Our 2 and 3 TE sets will be awfully dynamic in their own right.
This offense could be incredible. Like, "only held back by Andy not wanting to show his cards" kind of record-setting ability.
The mix of speed, power and intelligence is just fucking fantastic. It has so much potential. [Reply]
Originally Posted by ForeverIowan:
Pick your poison to the opposing defense. Literally. How do you want us to beat you today? Not so sure I can recall such a multi faceted offense. Possibly those New England offenses w Moss and Welker.
That 2013 Denver offense was pretty ridiculous.
Damryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Wes Welker and Julian Thomas. That's 4,200 yards and 320 catches for their top 3 WRs and TE.
When your top 4 pass catchers AVERAGE 80 catches for 1,050 yards between them, you're pretty damn versaitle.
Hell, Moreno had 60 catches and 1,000 yards rushing. Their backup had another 600 rushing yards.
That offense was pretty ridiculous. There's a reason those fellas averaged 38 points/gm.
That's the rabbit you're chasing. It's probably the best offense I've ever seen over a regular season. They could beat you in so many different ways. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
That 2013 Denver offense was pretty ridiculous.
Damryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Wes Welker and Julian Thomas. That's 4,200 yards and 320 catches for their top 3 WRs and TE.
When your top 4 pass catchers AVERAGE 80 catches for 1,050 yards between them, you're pretty damn versaitle.
Hell, Moreno had 60 catches and 1,000 yards rushing. Their backup had another 600 rushing yards.
That offense was pretty ridiculous. There's a reason those fellas averaged 38 points/gm.
That's the rabbit you're chasing. It's probably the best offense I've ever seen over a regular season. They could beat you in so many different ways.
That was built on a scheme defenses hadn't really seen before to protect the loss of Manning's arm strength, it was everything coming together at once. [Reply]
Originally Posted by ThrobProng:
I hope Worthy can be fully utilized right away. It's unlikely, but Rice being brought along slowly was frustrating last year.
The big difference though is that Rice doesn’t have elite speed. He really does have to rely on the passing game concepts much more than Worthy to be a factor. I’m very hopeful, and somewhat expecting he’s getting at least 6-8 targets from the very beginning. [Reply]
Lots of quotes from Conner Embree in this article. Thanks for posting. I'm hoping the kid can stay away from injury and LBs that try to take his head off. [Reply]
Originally Posted by ThrobProng:
I hope Worthy can be fully utilized right away. It's unlikely, but Rice being brought along slowly was frustrating last year.
Worthy is more polished and I think he may have picked up the playbook faster than Rice did. I don't think they have any intention of bringing Worthy along slowly. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
That 2013 Denver offense was pretty ridiculous.
Damryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Wes Welker and Julian Thomas. That's 4,200 yards and 320 catches for their top 3 WRs and TE.
When your top 4 pass catchers AVERAGE 80 catches for 1,050 yards between them, you're pretty damn versaitle.
Hell, Moreno had 60 catches and 1,000 yards rushing. Their backup had another 600 rushing yards.
That offense was pretty ridiculous. There's a reason those fellas averaged 38 points/gm.
That's the rabbit you're chasing. It's probably the best offense I've ever seen over a regular season. They could beat you in so many different ways.
Originally Posted by ForeverIowan:
Pick your poison to the opposing defense. Literally. How do you want us to beat you today? Not so sure I can recall such a multi faceted offense. Possibly those New England offenses w Moss and Welker.
If we're not counting Mahomes teams, I'd have to go with that 15-1 Vikings team back in the day, with Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Robert Smith. I thought Culpepper was the QB, but it was actually Randall Cunningham, who absolutely should be in the Hall of Fame. [Reply]
Before we drafted him, I read an article about Worthy, and he said something that stuck with me. He said that he was a little worried that people would get hung up on his speed and wouldn't notice that he was a crisp route runner. I like thinking about that now. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Those 3, plus Kelce and Perine (plus Pacheco has evidently improved his pass-catching skills this offseason) are gonna be a real bitch to deal with.
I mean you can even toss Hardman in there for some of the gadget stuff to keep teams honest. Our 2 and 3 TE sets will be awfully dynamic in their own right.
This offense could be incredible. Like, "only held back by Andy not wanting to show his cards" kind of record-setting ability.
And now they have Juju to take some snaps off Kelce when he needs a break. So 2 guys (Juju/Rice) in the middle who can constantly win in the middle of the field as well as 2 absolute burners outside in Hollywood/Worthy.
Imagine if Wiley is half as good as we think he can be? Even if he has a few plays a game where he makes a play. That’s just more fire added to a goddamn flamethrower [Reply]