The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Apr. 25 the selection of wide receiver Cyrus Allen from the University of Cincinnati with the No. 176 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Allen led his team in catches and receiving yards during his only season at Cincinnati, making him a notable addition to the Chiefs’ roster. He ranked third nationally and first in the Big 12 Conference with 13 touchdown receptions, earning Second-Team All-Big 12 honors for his performance.
Before joining Cincinnati, Allen played at Louisiana Tech, where he recorded over 1,200 receiving yards and eight touchdowns across two seasons. He later transferred to Texas A&M for one year before finishing his collegiate career as a Bearcat. Over four years and three schools, Allen totaled 137 receptions for more than 2,200 yards and scored 22 touchdowns in 44 games.
Scouting reports describe Allen as effective against both man-to-man and zone defenses last season. Dane Brugler of The Athletic said: “Despite his lack of size, he shows outstanding body control to adjust and frame the football mid-air, and his drops declined each season.” Metrics from last year support these observations about Allen’s separation ability on routes.
Allen primarily played out of the slot position during his final college season but also has experience as an outside receiver from previous years. Born near New Orleans, he grew up admiring Odell Beckham Jr., according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.
With this draft pick, Kansas City continues to build its wide receiver group heading into future seasons.
