The Kansas City Chiefs added another playmaker to their offense on Friday, acquiring wide receiver Kadarius Toney from the New York Giants.
Here are five things to know about the newest member of the squad.
1. Toney was the No. 20 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The 23-year-old Toney was a first-round pick a little more than a year ago, as he was the fourth wide receiver taken in the 2021 NFL Draft behind only Ja'Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith.
Prior to the draft, NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah listed Toney as the No. 28 overall prospect available that year. Here’s what Jeremiah wrote about the speedy playmaker:
"Toney is a versatile, explosive playmaker. He lines up in the slot and does a lot of damage on fly sweeps and seam routes. His combination of play strength, burst and wiggle makes him difficult to get on the ground once the ball is in his hands. He doesn't run a wide variety of routes, but he has the skill set to develop in that area. He's dangerous in the return game because of his athleticism and lack of fear. Overall, Toney isn't quite as big as Deebo Samuel, but I envision him playing the same role at the next level."
Elsewhere, Mel Kiper Jr. from ESPN ranked Toney as the No. 27 overall player in the 2021 class. Here’s what Kiper had to say about Toney:
"Toney was one of the best receivers at the Senior Bowl in January. He's so quick in and out of his breaks that defensive backs have trouble sticking with him. He'll make an impact out of the slot, and he also could be one of the NFL's best punt returners as a rookie."
That consensus evaluation eventually led to Toney being selected with the No. 20 overall selection on the draft's first night.
2. He appeared in 12 games for New York over the last two seasons.
Toney took the field in 10 games last season (4 starts), hauling in 39 receptions for 420 yards. He tallied the bulk of that production in two games, catching six passes for 78 yards in Week 5 against New Orleans before exploding for a 10-grab, 189-yard performance the following week vs. Dallas.
Those back-to-back strong outings suggested that Toney was on the verge of an impressive rookie campaign, but an oblique injury and a subsequent trip to the COVID-19 list forced him to miss seven of the Giants' next 11 games.
Toney appeared in each of the Giants' first two games this season, catching two passes, but has been sidelined with a hamstring injury in the time since.
3. Toney possesses elite speed and agility.
The 5-foot-11, 193-pound Toney showed off his top-end speed at his Pro Day back in 2021, recording a 4.39 40-yard dash. For context, that time would have ranked eighth among all wide receivers at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. Toney possesses tremendous agility, too, making for a dangerous combination when he has the ball in his hands.
Here's more on Toney's skillset from Pro Football Focus’ pre-draft evaluation:
"It's players like Toney who make football the greatest game in the world. The way he stops and starts in the blink of an eye is truly amazing to watch. He has the kind of flexibility and explosiveness in his lower half that allows him to break tackles in ways I've truly never seen before. It's why he broke 32 tackles on only 80 catches the past two seasons."
4. He played his college ball at the University of Florida.
Toney was a regular contributor throughout his four seasons in Gainesville and saved his best performance for last, tallying 70 catches for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns during his senior campaign. He was also active as a playmaker out of the backfield (19 carries for 161 yards and a touchdown) and as a return man.
His efforts earned Associated Press Second-Team All-America honors as an all-purpose performer while also garnering finalist recognition for the Paul Hornung Award, which is presented to the nation's most versatile player.
In total, Toney finished the 2020 season with 1,145 scrimmage yards and 11 total touchdowns.
5. Toney was originally a high school quarterback.
A three-star prospect out of Blount High School in Mobile County, Alabama, Toney was recruited as an athlete by college programs but excelled at quarterback during his prep career. In fact, during his final two years in school, Toney racked up 6,498 passing yards, 1,790 rushing yards and 100 total touchdowns (69 passing, 31 rushing).
Those ridiculous numbers caught the attention of numerous programs, including Florida, and after a winding path that led Toney up and down the east coast, he's now headed to Kansas City with an opportunity to capitalize on his immense potential.
