Getty Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Among the positions the Kansas City Chiefs needed to address during the 2022 NFL Draft was wide receiver.
After trading away Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City began re-stocking the receiver room by signing JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. But the Chiefs still needed to add a young playmaker on a rookie deal to ensure the offense had a long-term plan at wideout that wasn’t going to break the bank.
During the first round of the draft, the Chiefs used both of their picks on defenders. But when Day 2 came, they traded back from pick 50 to pick 54, which sparked a run on receivers that included Tyquan Thornton, George Pickens, and Alec Pierce going to the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Indianapolis Colts respectively.
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Despite the run on receivers, the Chiefs still came away with a talented pass-catcher at pick 54. With that pick, Kansas City selected Skyy Moore out of Western Michigan.
“We wanted Skyy,” Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi said of the run of receivers following Kansas City trading back, via Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star.
“We wanted Skyy,” Borgonzi said of the run of receivers that preceded the Chiefs’ pick.
Once he was drafted, Moore took to Twitter to express his emotions regarding being drafted by the AFC West champions.
“@PatrickMahomes WHATS GOOD MY BOYYY!!!!!!” Moore wrote.
@PatrickMahomes WHATS GOOD MY BOYYY!!!!!!
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes responded to Moore’s Tweet, writing, “Lets get it homie!”
What Are Chiefs Getting in Moore?
During the 2021 season, Moore accumulated 95 receptions for 1,292 yards and 10 touchdowns, according to Sports Reference. Although Moore was playing in the MAC, which doesn’t represent the strongest competition college football has to offer, there is a lot on tape to like about Moore, which was echoed by draft analysts leading up to the draft.
“Moore is an undersized wideout (5-10, 195) with excellent quickness, play strength and route polish. He split his time between lining up outside and in the slot for WMU. He is very sudden in his release and doesn’t waste any steps at the top of routes,” NFL Media draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah wrote of Moore, who he ranked No. 44 in his top 50 prospects rankings 3.0 on March 28.
“He attacks the leverage of cornerbacks and creates a lot of separation out of the break point. He has strong hands to attack the ball and he’s very tough/sturdy after the catch. Moore bounces off tacklers on quick hitters and jet sweeps. He has excellent top speed when he gets in the open field. Overall, the lack of ideal size is the only knock on Moore. He should emerge as a dangerous playmaker very early in his career.”
Skyy Moore … let’s watch some tape. t.co/FtuQG3PNbh
Twitter Reacts to Chiefs Selecting Moore
Twitter users reacted to the Chiefs selecting Moore in the second round.
“How did this happen??? How did the @Chiefs get Skyy Moore. Holy crap Batman. This guys is a baller best pure slot in the draft. And can play outside to. He has weapon potential. Patrick Mahomes is gonna be happy,” former NFL QB and NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms wrote.
How did this happen??? How did the @Chiefs get Skyy Moore. Holy crap Batman. This guys is a baller best pure slot in the draft. And can play outside to. He has weapon potential. Patrick Mahomes is gonna be happy.
“I would be VERY surprised if Skyy Moore didn’t become a good NFL receiver. In any offense. Now he gets to play with Patrick Mahomes. Very good chance he makes this draft position look like a bargain,” Sam Monson of PFF wrote.
I would be VERY surprised if Skyy Moore didn’t become a good NFL receiver. In any offense.
Now he gets to play with Patrick Mahomes.
Very good chance he makes this draft position look like a bargain.
“Patrick Mahomes is going to have a lot of fun throwing to Skyy Moore. Wins right off the line with great hands. Lots of smiles in Kansas City,” Jeremiah wrote.
Patrick Mahomes is going to have a lot of fun throwing to Skyy Moore. Wins right off the line with great hands. Lots of smiles in Kansas City.
“If there was ever a match made in draft heaven in Round 2 it’s Skyy Moore to Chiefs w Big Andy and @PatrickMahomes,” FOX NFL insider Jay Glazer wrote.
If there was ever a match made in draft heaven in Round 2 it’s Skyy Moore to Chiefs w Big Andy and @PatrickMahomes
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Patrick Mahomes Sends Message to Chiefs 2nd-Round WR Skyy Moore