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April 8, 2025 Nero Scoffield College Sports 0

To no one’s surprise, Kansas City is hosting a small wideout with elite deep speed.

Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network reports that the offensive coaches of the Kansas City Chiefs, along with coaches from other teams, are set to meet with Virginia Tech wide receiver Jaylin Lane.

As we’ll explore, Lane represents a type of wide receiver the Chiefs have consistently targeted over the last ten years.

Background

Originally a three-star prospect from Clover, South Carolina, Lane committed to Middle Tennessee State in 2020. He broke out in 2022 with 63 receptions for 940 yards and five touchdowns, prompting a transfer to Virginia Tech for his final two years of eligibility.

Though he didn’t post eye-popping numbers during his time in Blacksburg, Lane flashed intriguing upside. In his most recent season, he recorded 38 catches for 466 yards and two touchdowns, while also contributing 116 rushing yards and two scores on the ground.

Lane made his mark on special teams as well. In 2021, he topped Conference USA with a 15.5-yard punt return average. In 2024, he led the ACC with 245 punt return yards. Across his college career, he returned two punts for touchdowns and averaged 21.8 yards on 39 kickoff returns over five seasons.

Following the season, Lane participated in the Senior Bowl and earned an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine, where he measured in at 5’10” and 191 pounds. His blazing 4.34-second 40-yard dash and 40-inch vertical likely caught the Chiefs’ attention.

Could Lane help spark a revival of the “Legion of Zoom”?

Film Breakdown

A look at Lane’s 2024 highlights shows why he might be a natural fit in Andy Reid’s offense. Many of his touches are quick-hitters near the line of scrimmage, crafted to get him in open space and take advantage of his elite speed.

Lane motions and receives a short pass, advancing to the 5-yard line for a gain of 12 yards. The wide receiver is also effective when given the ball directly, as demonstrated with this end-around play against Miami.

This is the kind of play that Reid often used with former Chiefs receiver Mecole Hardman (now with the Green Bay Packers). While Kansas City boasts the fastest wide receiver in Xavier Worthy, it might be prudent to bring in another speedy option to minimize the risk of injury to Worthy’s lighter build during trick plays.

However, Lane offers much more than just being a target for designed touches. He excels at getting past defenses on crossing routes through the middle of the field.

Lane often moves around but lines up in the slot to outmaneuver the defense on this route. Recently, Arrowhead Pride’s Nate Christensen highlighted a similar issue with Va. Tech wide receiver Da’Quan Felton, noting his lack of targets in the Hokies’ offense. Evaluating Lane poses a comparable challenge: he often finds himself open but seldom gets the ball thrown to him.

The quarterback successfully tosses the ball to the tight end for a nine-yard gain, but Lane is open on a shallow crossing route and probably could have picked up 20 yards with a catch. The predictable Hokie offense didn’t generate many chances for deep throws, but Lane capitalized on his best opportunity last season. Against Virginia, he easily outran the entire secondary for a clear touchdown. Notably, he intercepted the downfield pass while on the run without any hesitation, enabling him to score at nearly full speed.

Last season, Lane was often used so close to the line of scrimmage that it became easy to predict where and how he would receive the ball, resulting in several disrupted plays. Scouts need to consider whether his occasional hesitation in decision-making contributes to these unproductive plays or if they primarily come from the repetitive nature of the playcalling.

At first, the Chiefs planned to create opportunities for Lane to utilize his speed in open spaces. However, to fully exploit his potential for yards after the catch, he needs to improve his ability to break tackles. Although he has the potential for big plays, Lane often loses his balance after evading the first defender, resulting in gains that seem like they could have been even more significant. For example, in this end-around against Virginia, he struggles to stay upright and push for the end zone.

Lane possesses a standout skill that could help him secure early playing time as a rookie.

Lane is quick and confident when fielding punts. With more open field to work with, his return ability stands out — his balance improves, and he’s capable of both slipping past and powering through defenders, as shown on his punt return touchdown in 2024.

Final Thoughts

Lane fits the mold of wide receiver that some Chiefs fans have grown tired of — yet it’s a style Kansas City continues to prioritize, judging by this year’s reported draft meetings.

Considering how crucial Xavier Worthy is expected to be in the offense, it would be smart to add another speedster as injury insurance. While Lane isn’t as physically imposing, he flashes potential in some of the same yards-after-catch plays that highlighted Rashee Rice’s breakout stretch as a rookie.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly how high wide receiver ranks on the Chiefs’ draft board. If Rice is unavailable in 2025 — due to health or off-field concerns — Kansas City could need rookie contributions right away. But if Rice, Worthy, and Hollywood Brown stay healthy and active, the role for a rookie receiver might be limited.

Lane’s special teams value — combined with Reid’s knack for maximizing speedy playmakers — gives him a solid floor as a potential Day Three pick. He could contribute immediately in the return game and get up to speed in the offense, possibly positioning himself to take over for Brown in 2026.

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