Stephen A. Smith Says KC Chiefs'Wide Receivers Are a'Huge Concern'Early in 2023 Season

Four games into the 2023 NFL regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs have only shown flashes of being the high-flying passing offense the league has grown accustomed to over the past several years. Inconsistency has been a major issue thus far, and the wide receiver position remains under serious scrutiny as the first month of games slowly comes to a close.

Despite the team's percentage of total passing yards to wideouts rising from 50.5% last season to 56.7% this season, the Chiefs' receivers have largely underperformed as a unit in 2023. As a result, Andy Reid's offense occupies the No. 9 rankings in total passing yards per game and average points scored per game. Don't get it twisted: Kansas City's offense is still good, yet it still feels like a drop-off from how efficient it's been in prior seasons with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. 

Is there trouble in paradise? Even with Kansas City boasting a 3-1 record and having secured all three of its victories in a row, some aren't impressed with what they've seen. Popular ESPN First Take host Stephen A. Smith is one of those folks. On a Monday Custom jersyes the show, Smith described the struggles as a "huge concern" for Mahomes and company at this stage of the season: 

"In all seriousness, here's the deal. You've got him scrambling 10% of the time. He's relying on tight ends and running backs to come to his rescue — I'm talking about throwing the football to them — because your wide receivers can't get open. You look at the 101 points they've scored thus far this season, by far their lowest. They're averaging nearly seven points less per game in the first four games this season. That, to me, is a huge concern because when we talk about the Kansas City Chiefs, it starts and stops with Patrick Mahomes. He seems to be willing to do anything it takes, obviously, to come to the rescue, and that's what he has to do. Whether it's run it himself, whether it's relying on Kelce — overly, I might add, even though he's one of the greatest of all time — or relying on his running backs like Pacheco and others."                                    

Smith also stepped back to take a look at the rest of the AFC. He thinks that unless things improve, the Chiefs will have a difficult time winning back-to-back championships: 

"The reality is that you've got receivers that can't get open. When you think about the rest of the AFC, when you think about Miami despite what happened, when you think about Buffalo and what you saw yesterday, when you think about Lamar Jackson, when you think about things like that... you're going to have to be better offensively if you're going to repeat as Super Bowl champions. I don't see that right now based on his receivers and how they've been performing."

Of course, it's still early in the year, but Smith's points would be Wholesale jerseys by many. Kansas City receivers have indeed struggled to gain consistent separation and produce this year, with a varying assortment of results taking shape. Among 156 league wideouts to receive a target this season, per Pro Football Focus, the Chiefs have the No. 17 (Rashee Rice), 38 (Justin Watson), 65 (Kadarius Toney), 93 (Skyy Moore), 111 (Marquez Valdes-Scantling, 147 (Richie James) and 149 (Justyn Ross) players in yards per route run. 

The age of players such as Rice, Moore and Toney suggests that leaving the door open for improvement is wise, but things certainly don't look great right now. After Kansas City won a championship with a by-committee approach at the receiver position, general manager Brett Veach opted to double down on that roster-building strategy this year. The early returns are underwhelming, and Smith shares a common viewpoint. Will this ultimately hold the Chiefs back? Only time will tell.