Tennessee wideout Josh Palmer: an ideal ‘X’ — and possible special teams ace

A very Merry Draftmas to you!

We continue our tradition of profiling an NFL Draft prospect every day in April, leading up to the NFL Draft on April 29th. Every day, you’ll get a prospect profile that includes how they would fit with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs still have a need for a wide receiver — and limited options to make a long-term improvement to the position group through free agency. So let’s take a look at a pass-catcher with an excellent athletic profile — one who could develop into a quality X receiver.

Josh Palmer, wide receiver

Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

6’2” | 209 lbs | Tennessee

Brampton, ON, Canada

Expected draft range: Day three

Pro Day: 4.51 40-yard dash, 34” vertical jump, 124” broad jump, 4.25 short shuttle, 6.98 three-cone

One-sentence bio: Born and raised Canadian who participated — and stood out — in the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

One-sentence scouting report: High-effort, detail-oriented wide receiver with jump-ball ability and a willingness to block — and who shows promise as both a pass catcher and four-phase special teams player.

One play:

How he fits in Kansas City: Palmer seems like a player that both Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and special teams coordinator Dave Toub would love. He’s a strong, physical receiver who can beat press coverage and play with strength through contact; he’s a player who wins above the rim with exceptional body control and strong hands. In between making catches, he also does all the dirty work; Palmer gives outstanding effort and clearly takes pride in his ability to block. Whether the play is away from him or he’s actively involved in it, Palmers’ consistent effort displays his football character.

The little things are what could endear him both to the coach and the coordinator. As a blocker, Palmer could quickly earn trust — and opportunities on the field. He’s a perfect complimentary piece to tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver Tyreek Hill — a player with more upside than former Kansas City receiver Chris Conley who does some of the things the Chiefs liked about his game. The same could be true for Palmer on special teams, where the “hidden third” of a player’s evaluation is often based on effort and attention to detail.

If the Chiefs want a high-character, high-effort player with some promise as a receiver, Palmer could very well be in the mix as early as Day 2.

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