Kansas City, MO — It’s only training camp, but the buzz is real: Patrick Mahomes might have found his next big-time playmaker — and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

After an offseason full of questions about the Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver room, all eyes were on how Mahomes would build chemistry with his new pass-catchers. And now, one name is rising above the rest: rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy.

Drafted out of Texas in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Worthy has turned heads at camp with his blazing speed, crisp route running, and surprising poise for a rookie. Early reports out of St. Joseph say Worthy has already developed a strong connection with Mahomes, drawing comparisons to a young Tyreek Hill — the former Chiefs star whose departure in 2022 left a hole in the Chiefs’ deep-threat game.

“He’s fast — like really fast,” Mahomes said during a media session. “But what I love is how quickly he’s learning the system. He wants to be great, and you can feel it every time he steps on the field.”

Solving the Speed Gap

Last season, the Chiefs struggled to consistently stretch the field. While Travis Kelce remained dominant in the middle, the team lacked a reliable downfield burner. That hole became glaring in tight games — even as Kansas City captured another Super Bowl title, questions lingered about offensive explosiveness.

Worthy, who broke the NFL Combine record with a 4.21-second 40-yard dash, is already showing he can be the answer. During red zone and 7-on-7 drills, he has consistently burned defenders and hauled in deep passes from Mahomes with ease. His performance has teammates and coaches buzzing.

“He’s not just a speed guy,” said head coach Andy Reid. “He understands leverage, spacing, and he’s coachable. That’s a dangerous combination when you’ve got a quarterback like Pat.”

What This Means for Kansas City

If Worthy continues his camp dominance into preseason and regular season play, the Chiefs may have stumbled upon the perfect complement to Kelce — and a long-term solution to their wideout woes. With Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kadarius Toney offering limited production last season, Worthy could immediately rise to the top of the depth chart.

NFL analysts have already begun projecting Worthy as a sleeper Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, given the opportunity he’ll have in a Mahomes-led offense.

“The sky’s the limit,” said ESPN analyst Mina Kimes. “If Mahomes trusts him, and it looks like he does, Worthy could explode in Year 1.”

The Bigger Picture

The Chiefs are coming off back-to-back Super Bowl titles, and maintaining that dominance in a loaded AFC won’t be easy. But if Worthy lives up to the early hype, Kansas City may have quietly reloaded for yet another title run — this time with even more speed and firepower.

Bottom line? Mahomes may have just found his next superstar. And if that’s true, the rest of the league should be very, very worried.