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Analyzing a Chiefs need: wide receiver

With the initial frenzy of free agency over, we’ll start a look here at how the Kansas City Chiefs might line up at the various position groups if they had a game today, and analyze whether they have more work to do.

Wide receiver

Likely starters: Jeremy Maclin (pictured) and Albert Wilson.

Backups: Jason Avant, Junior Hemingway, Da'Rick Rogers and De'Anthony Thomas.

Others under contract or protected with a tender offer: Armon Binns, Frankie Hammond Jr., Corbin Louks and Fred Williams.

Analyzing the need: Despite signing Maclin, the Chiefs still need help here. A rookie who can help either as a part-time No. 2 or slot receiver would make a lot of sense. The Chiefs still don’t know whether Wilson can be anything more than a part-time player and, even if he shows that ability, there’s little depth if he or Maclin suffers an injury. Avant did a nice job after joining the Chiefs late last season, but he will be 32 when training camp begins. Hemingway and Thomas haven’t shown they can be anything but part-time players. Rogers is talented, but still a developmental prospect. So the Chiefs need at least one wide receiver in any early round of the draft, and perhaps even one in a later round.