LNBS: Chiefs draft theory

[staylor26]

Every year the Chiefs are connected, by what feels like everybody in the media, to the best deep threat in the draft. Whether it's Henry Ruggs, Jameson Williams, etc.

Haven't heard a whole lot about the Chiefs and Hyatt, and that makes me go hmmm.

Don't get me wrong, he was mentioned by both Breer and King today (interesting enough), but it was more of a throwaway backup plans scenario as opposed to the headline of names.

Instead it's been guys like Zay Flowers and Jamhyr Gibbs. The thing is, I don't see the Chiefs trading up as high as it will take to get Flowers, and I definitely don't see them actually taking a RB in the 1st more or less trading up for one.

Going into the draft process, many thought Hyatt wouldn't be in our range either, but after probably the most disappointing 4.4 I've ever seen, it feels like everybody has jsut written him off entirely in the 1st round.

What if the Chiefs know they can get Hyatt at 31, and they're just trying to keep everybody off the idea that he is in fact a perfect fit for what they look for (like Williams and Ruggs).

It's entirely possible that his 40 is a blessing in disguise, because I think he's going to light it up if the Chiefs actually take him.

[Warrick]

Originally Posted by Iconic

Had to go dumpster diving to find this tweet from ages ago but see for yourself.

Receiving yards % by route for Jalin Hyatt, JSN, Jordan Addison and Quentin Johnson (2021-22, via PFF) pic.twitter.com/ZmwXMnSCHe

— Austin Gayle (@austingayle_) February 15, 2023

As I said before, we do not know if it was a “wasn’t asked to do” rather than “can’t do” situation. I get Heupel’s offense ran a bunch of deep choice stuff and Hyatt was forced into running a lot of flys. But with all these unknowns it just remains to be seen why you'd take him when there may be better options without as many question marks. I'm not even opposed to taking him, I just see better value elsewhere personally.

Quentin's body of work looks like a better fit for the Chiefs than Hyatts according to that graph.

[staylor26]

This is more in line with what you see on tape:

Jalin Hyatt had a reputation as a deep threat in Knoxville, averaging 18.9 yards per reception in 2022.

He validated that reputation at the 2023 NFL Combine, reaching the 3rd-fastest top speed (24.29 MPH) of the 208 players who were tracked during the forty-yard dash. pic.twitter.com/HA527junxA

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 25, 2023

Sure, he might just be an MVS type, but he could also be DeSean Jackson. I don't think people would be talking about him like they do if he times how people expected in the 40.

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by Iconic

Had to go dumpster diving to find this tweet from ages ago but see for yourself.

Receiving yards % by route for Jalin Hyatt, JSN, Jordan Addison and Quentin Johnson (2021-22, via PFF) pic.twitter.com/ZmwXMnSCHe

— Austin Gayle (@austingayle_) February 15, 2023

As I said before, we do not know if it was a “wasn’t asked to do” rather than “can’t do” situation. I get Heupel’s offense ran a bunch of deep choice stuff and Hyatt was forced into running a lot of flys. But with all these unknowns it just remains to be seen why you'd take him when there may be better options without as many question marks. I'm not even opposed to taking him, I just see better value elsewhere personally.

This is meaningless in arguing he can't run other routes. Just because he gets the bulk of his yards on "fly" routes, and that can be vastly misinterpreted at that, it doesn't speak to the volume of routes he ran whatsoever or prove that he can't run other routes effectively. That's what I want.

[Iconic]

Originally Posted by kccrow

This is meaningless in arguing he can't run other routes. Just because he gets the bulk of his yards on "fly" routes, and that can be vastly misinterpreted at that, it doesn't speak to the volume of routes he ran whatsoever or prove that he can't run other routes effectively. That's what I want.

It's not perfect, but it is somewhat indicative. There is also no evidence to suggest he can run other routes effectively, the tape at least to me, does not bare that out and neither do the stats. If he was running comebacks, curls, crossing, etc. routes as good as the go why did he do jack for two years and then suddenly with Heupel’s system change and go spamming, break out? Sure, we could operate on complete assumptions here and assume Hyatt is the second coming of Jerry Rice - that still begs the question of why, statistically, that does not show at all compared to his peers. I'm not a Hyatt hater, but to disregard this entirely is a little naïve.

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by Iconic

It's not perfect, but it is somewhat indicative. There is also no evidence to suggest he can run other routes effectively, the tape at least to me, does not bare that out and neither do the stats. If he was running comebacks, curls, crossing, etc. routes as good as the go why did he do jack for two years and then suddenly with Heupel’s system change and go spamming, break out? Sure, we could operate on complete assumptions here and assume Hyatt is the second coming of Jerry Rice - that still begs the question of why, statistically, that does not show at all compared to his peers. I'm not a Hyatt hater, but to disregard this entirely is a little naïve.

He ran a lot of crossers, overs, drags, and posts. I'm not sure why those would ever come into question. Reid doesn't ask much in terms of comebacks, curls, and hitches, especially from his Z. I don't think I'd start worrying about that much. Again, I've been presented with nothing that speaks to this narrative that he can't run routes. It's largely made up by people assuming all he did was run go routes, and because he didn't run a large volume of possession receiver-style routes. I wouldn't be drafting Hyatt to run curls all day. That doesn't take advantage of his greatest asset which is his speed and acceleration. Reid would never use him that way.

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

Haven’t you heard? We’re trading up for a LT.

[Iconic]

Originally Posted by kccrow

He ran a lot of crossers, overs, drags, and posts. I'm not sure why those would ever come into question. Reid doesn't ask much in terms of comebacks, curls, and hitches, especially from his Z. I don't think I'd start worrying about that much. Again, I've been presented with nothing that speaks to this narrative that he can't run routes. It's largely made up by people assuming all he did was run go routes, and because he didn't run a large volume of possession receiver-style routes. I wouldn't be drafting Hyatt to run curls all day. That doesn't take advantage of his greatest asset which is his speed and acceleration. Reid would never use him that way.

Never said he cannot run routes, I said his route tree isn't fleshed out. Did you watch the Bama game? His bread and butter was free releases off go routes from stack formations with DBs playing 15 yards back. I don't see how this is consistently translatable to the NFL and worthy of a first? How likely is it Reid will be able to consistently contrive these looks for him to warrent a first round selection? If playing WR was that easy, and all you needed was elite speed with a coach to scheme free releases, Ross is a HOFer right now. I counted a single route in that game where he set up a nice contested catch from a red zone slant off a jab step. Literally one, in his best game of the season. Yes, there's a significant number of draft pundits questioning him as a route runner, I mean guys who do this for a living like Steve Smith saying these things. Maybe they are all making assumptions, but I find that very hard to believe. To each their own I guess.