How an Undrafted 25-Year-Old Razorback Could Help the Chiefs Wide Receiver Room in 2026
The Arkansas Razorback had just one target, one reception for 17 yards during the Chiefs' first preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams. What wide receiver Andrew Armstrong also had during that game, as well as what he’s shown in training camp, could very well get him on the 53-man roster. With two pancake blocks against the Rams’ secondary and a consistent ability to get open, Armstrong has come out of nowhere to get the attention of Chiefs Kingdom. With the wide receiver room being a major concern for fans, the six-foot-four, 202lb wideout has been a welcome surprise.
The 2024 First Team All-SEC recipient, who had 78 catches for 1,140 yards that year and 764 yards the previous year, went undrafted in 2025 but was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent. After being waived by the Dolphins in August of that year, he was signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad before being released in December, then signed a reserve/future contract in Kansas City in January of this year; a rollercoaster to begin an NFL career that has landed him on his favorite team since childhood. Whenever an undrafted potential diamond in the rough is discovered on a team, questions as to why the prospect wasn’t selected inevitably arise. In Armstrong’s case, according to his combine assessment, it was concluded that he lacks body control and foot agility and is slow getting out of his press release. He was dinged for having just one touchdown on his 78 receptions in 2024. His size, however, can be a force multiplier for the good qualities he was assessed to have at the combine. Qualities such as an above-average catch radius and the ability to snatch the ball from the air with large, tight-end-like hands. What wasn’t assessed, what can’t be quantified, is a player’s desire to succeed. Much like his fellow teammate, Kahlil Benson, a UDFA and rookie mini-camp invitee who’s defying the odds and rising up the depth chart, Armstrong is defying the odds himself, and with the standout camp he’s had, combined with a couple more good showings in the preseason, he should make the team. It just might be the year of the underdog in Kansas City.
What leaped off the screen during the preseason game against the Rams was the Razorback’s blocking, a bullying display to include taking two defensive backs completely off their feet on two separate reps of run blocking. This kind of mentality and physicality brings an old-school feel to the WR position that has always had an element of the prima donna attached to it. That he embraces, and seemingly takes such pride in, the less glamorous work of blocking is a major plus for the second-year player. Especially when the Chiefs are switching to a more run-heavy offense with reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, Armstrong’s big body and tenacity make him perfect for an X receiver role as WR6. His demonstrated ability to find space on the field and get open on multiple reps against the Rams bodes well for a future at Arrowhead. While there are question marks surrounding Rashee Rice’s rehabbing knee and concerns for Xavier Worthy’s ability to stay healthy, depth at the WR position in 2026 may be a consistent talking point throughout the season. Fortunately, players like Cyrus Allen and Armstrong, who have far and away exceeded expectations, provide some reassurance for Chiefs Kingdom.
