The Kansas City Chiefs continued to adjust their team following the end of their three-day rookie minicamp.
While the Chiefs quickly signed wide receiver Reggie Brown after he went undrafted from James Madison University, he was also the first to be let go. On Tuesday, May 7, Kansas City signed undrafted wide receiver Jaaron Hayek, one of thirty-six players invited to minicamp on a tryout basis.
To balance this, the Chiefs released Brown, according to Arrowhead Live. It was somewhat surprising that Brown was let go given his background. Last season, he caught 53 passes for 1,055 yards and led the team with 9 touchdowns. Against UConn, he set a new single-game school record with 202 receiving yards.
The receiver’s average of 19.89 yards per catch ranked ninth nationally, JMU Sports reported, and second in the Sun Belt Conference.
However, the competition was too tough for the First-Team All-SBC wide receiver. There were a total of 74 players, including 38 undrafted rookies and four NFL veterans invited to try out. Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun and six other first-year active roster players also participated in rookie minicamp, along with all seven of the Chiefs 2024 draft picks and 17 signed undrafted free agents.
Brown shared pictures with his family on Instagram after he was signed by the Chiefs last month. He wrote in the since-deleted post, “🙏🏿🚀 @chiefs.”
After being released, Brown will try to secure a minicamp tryout with another team. He later posted on his Instagram Stories, “More life bruddah” with fingers crossed emoji and Rod Wave’s “Keep Going” playing in the background.
As Chiefs head coach Andy Reid evaluates the team’s new talent, there are likely to be many more releases.
Chiefs News: Former Villanova WR Jaaron Hayek Impressed at Minicamp
Hayek quickly settled into the rookie minicamp. Chiefs reporter Matt McMullen mentioned after Day 1, “Hayek received several passes during practice and generally took advantage of them, catching multiple deep receptions and making a strong catch over the middle.”
Chiefs Digest’s Matt Derrick named the 6-foot-1, 199-pounder one of his “Five to Watch” after Day 2. Ever since the Villanova graduate “arrived in Kansas City on a tryout basis,” Derrick wrote, “all he’s done since got here is catching virtually everything in sight.
“Hayek had his first drop on Sunday but he made a nifty sliding catch on day one and he has consistently demonstrated soft hands. Hayek appeared on his way to making a strong bid for the NFL after his 2022 season in which he averaged 101.3 yards receiving per game and 22.5 yards per catch but he slipped last season to just 35 receptions for 457 yards and four touchdowns. Kansas City scouts saw something in him to bring him in for a tryout, and so far he’s made his case.”
During the 2022 season with the Wildcats, Hayek made 36 receptions for 810 yards and 8 touchdowns in eight games. In 11 games last season, he caught 35 passes for 457 yards and 4 scores.
Chiefs Face Tough Competition at Wide Receiver Due to Rashee Rice’s Expected Suspension
GettyRashee Rice, who plays as a wide receiver for the Chiefs, was at Arrowhead Stadium on January 13, 2024.
While the player selected in the first round Xavier Worthy seems like they will immediately help the team, there is a troubling situation among the Chiefs’ group of receivers.
Quarterback The main wide receiver for Patrick Mahomes, Rashee Rice, isexpected to face a suspension for being involved in a car crash with multiple vehicles. Things got worse on Tuesday, as WFAA stated that Rice is being investigated for reportedly hitting a photographer at a club in Dallas early Monday morning. It’s not clear when Rice's suspension will occur in 2024, but the Chiefs need to be ready. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach indicated that he wouldn’t seek outside talent until after training camp, so there is a chance for competition for the position of the Chiefs' No. 6 or No. 7 wide receiver.
In the absence of Rice, Mahomes’ main receivers are
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown , Worthy, Justin Watson, Kadarius Toney, and Skyy Moore. Newcomers will compete against Justyn Ross,Nikko Remigio , Cornell Powell, and Montrell Washington for a place on the 53-man roster.The Chiefs released former JMU standout wide receiver Reggie Brown after the rookie minicamp.
