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Chiefs headlines for Wednesday, May 7
Elijhah Badger may be the crown jewel of the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 undrafted free-agent class, a group that includes 16 prospects so far.
The wideout started his collegiate career at Arizona State, leading the Sun Devils in receiving yardage for both the 2022 and 2023 seasons. After transferring to Florida last year, the talented pass-catcher didn’t skip a beat and finished with a team-high 806 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 39 catches.
Rated as the No. 224 overall prospect and No. 30 wideout on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department’s Big Board, Badger possesses plenty of qualities professional teams covet for their receiving corps.
During his trip to the scouting combine, he showed he has adequate size (measuring in at 6’1”, 200 lbs) and solid athleticism (running a 4.43-second 40-yard dash and posting a 35.5” vertical leap) to go along with his proven production.
He may not be a burner or as physically dominant at the next level, but working in an offense led by Patrick Mahomes should make the transition easy for the young pass-catcher.
Badger projects as an ideal WR4 in Kansas City’s system, a player who may not emerge as a starter but one who can make good things happen during the handful of times he will touch the ball every Sunday.
The Chiefs have a relatively deep receiving corps—Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown are locked in as the top three—but there’s room for more competition.
Veterans such as JuJu Smith-Schuster, Skyy Moore and Justyn Ross are set to battle with fourth-round rookie Jalen Royals for a spot in the pecking order during training camp, but Badger should be right in the mix with a real chance to slip into one of the final roster spots with a promising camp showing.
Even if he doesn’t make the initial cut, Badger would be a major asset for the practice squad. He could even see a quick promotion to the active roster if the injury bug plagues the Kansas City receivers room the way it has in recent years.
Badger’s odds to make final roster: 20 percent
Is the offensive line actually fortified? Retaining Trey Smith was wise, and rock-solid anchor Creed Humphrey remains at center. But they’re betting a lot on rookie Josh Simmons as a short- and long-term left tackle for Patrick Mahomes, considering their answer to a Super Bowl flop was dealing All-Pro Joe Thuney and signing a career reserve in Jaylon Moore.
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