The selection of Texas Longhorns wide receiver Xavier Worthy by the Kansas City Chiefs prompted considerable speculation among NFL enthusiasts regarding the team’s continued prowess in player acquisition.
As the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, the Chiefs augmented their formidable offensive lineup by adding Worthy, renowned for his exceptional speed, to an already potent arsenal of weapons for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Worthy’s electrifying performance at the scouting combine, where he clocked a record-setting 4.21 in the 40-yard dash, solidified his status as a standout prospect. His inclusion in the Chiefs’ offense alongside seasoned receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, who showcased his own impressive speed with a 4.27 40-yard dash in 2019, further heightened anticipation for the team’s offensive capabilities.
Amidst speculation from certain NFL fans suggesting that Worthy’s acquisition virtually guaranteed Kansas City’s return to the Super Bowl, there remained skeptics such as Colin Cowherd. The FS1 host expressed skepticism during a Friday broadcast, questioning the consensus optimism surrounding the pick.
Cowherd’s skepticism centered on the statistical challenges of successfully drafting wide receivers in the first round, citing a reported 73 percent failure rate. He questioned the prevailing narrative that Worthy’s addition alone would secure another Super Bowl victory for Kansas City, referring to him dismissively as a “160-pound track guy.”
"Why is the world guaranteeing me the Chiefs just won the Super Bowl because they took a 160 lb track guy at WR?"@ColinCowherd says the Bills didn't hand KC a franchise-changer in Xavier Worthy: pic.twitter.com/k8AZ2xGNWT
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) April 26, 2024
However, Cowherd’s characterization overlooks the multifaceted skill set that Worthy brings to the Chiefs. Beyond his remarkable speed, Worthy has demonstrated proficiency as a route runner and kick returner, earning recognition as a first-team All-Big 12 player for his contributions both as a receiver and return specialist, as well as leading the FBS in punt return yards.
The reaction from those closely following college football and the draft reflected a sense of dissatisfaction with Cowherd’s assessment of the Worthy pick, underscoring the nuanced evaluation required when analyzing draft selections of this caliber.
I stopped listening when he said Worthy is not a polished route runner, when every draft analyst said he runs the entire route tree 😂 https://t.co/ytzuFgfit9
— University of Tampering (@Doc_Texas) April 26, 2024
26 career TDs in 3 years isn’t a track guy. It’s a football player, buddy. https://t.co/1bowmGecQi
— Justin Wells (@justinwells2424) April 26, 2024
Calling Xavier worthy a "track guy" shows me you don't actually know anything about the guy other than his 40 time https://t.co/QZkgkMYdEz
— Greg McConnell (@GregoryMac11) April 26, 2024
Continually calling Worthy a track guy in a derogatory sense and saying he isn’t a polished route-runner lets me know exactly where I can put this opinion. https://t.co/D11798przB
— Kevin Flaherty (@KFlahertyFA) April 26, 2024
