KC Chiefs draft picks left a good first impression on HC Andy Reid during rookie minicamp

The Kansas City Chiefs completed their 2024 rookie minicamp with a quick practice on Monday morning. 

The three-day minicamp is a first taste of the NFL for draft picks, undrafted free agents, and hopeful tryout players. For the Chiefs, it's a jumping-off point where they can provide incoming players with a baseline of information and see how well the they retain that information through OTAs, mandatory minicamp and training camp. 

“Good to have the rookies in here, I thought they did a nice job," Chiefs HC Andy Reid told reporters on Monday. "It was good work, a good introduction to these guys. Some of these guys have been traveling all over America so they haven’t done a whole lot of football up until this point so it was good to get them back in the swing of things so they could see what kind of pace we go at."

As far as individual performances go, Reid seems to have come away impressed by the players he worked with on the offensive side of the ball. 

Xavier Worthy impressing the Chiefs with more than just his speed

While Worthy's speed caught the attention of teammates and media members in attendance, his ability to retain information was what Andy Reid for himself most impressed with. 

“I thought he did a nice job picking things up and working through (things),” Reid said. “We asked him to do a whole lot of stuff there. He was put in mostly the primary spots, so it was good for him to get in there and move around a little bit. (He's) a sharp kid." 

While some rookies were asked to learn just one role during rookie minicamp, Worthy got reps at punt returner and all three receiver roles. He did the same at Texas, which is one of the reasons he might have an advantage in learning the Chiefs' playbook and seeing the field early.

The Chiefs didn't get the full picture of Jared Wiley

Wiley left a good impression on Andy Reid, but he admitted it wasn't a complete one, the Chiefs consider minicamp and OTAs as "passing camps." There is no live contact, running drills or anything remotely close to contact football. 

“I liked what I saw,” Reid said of Wiley. “Big kid, can change direction. He was a good blocker in college, so we’ll see how that transfers. I thought he caught the ball well for the most part and retained information, so I thought he did a pretty good job there.”

Wiley was able to show his chops as a pass-catcher, but he's yet to really do anything related to blocking. That seems to be what Reid is most eager to see Wiley, and see whether his success in college as a blocker translates to the NFL.

One of the best young offensive line groups at a Chiefs rookie minicamp

As for the offensive line group, Reid spoke about Kingsley Suamataia first. The rookie attended Reid's alma mater at BYU and endearingly referred to Reid as an "uncle." 

“Well, listen, I know a lot of his family, and he’s a local kid there,” Reid said of Suamataia. “It’s a close-knit group up there, just in general with BYU. And so I understand that part. But when you’re here, then it’s work. He knows that. There’s no favoritism, so you get out, and it’s equal opportunity for everybody. I was proud of him, (of) how he worked. He came out and worked hard and did a nice job of learning.”

With three draft picks along the offensive line (Suamataia, Hunter Nourzad, and C.J. Hanson), expectations were high for this group. Alongside several undrafted free agents and rookie minicamp tryouts, the group didn't disappoint. Reid even felt it might be one of the best young offensive line group's the team has ever had at a rookie camp. 

"I thought it was good," Reid said. "I'll be curious to see when our other guys get in here. I mean, we're not going live, so you've got to see. And there's no run game. We're not doing that against each other. So, you're not going to see that going on, but I liked what I saw, from what I saw. It's got to be one of the best young offensive line groups we've had in here just collectively." 

That's saying a lot when just a few years ago, they drafted a pair of starters in Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith.