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Chiefs Draft Kelvin Benjamin: All The Details

Trends January 14, 2025

Who is Kelvin Benjamin?

Kelvin Benjamin is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft and also played for the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs.

Benjamin was a standout wide receiver at Florida State University, where he was named an All-American and won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver in 2013. He was selected by the Panthers with the 28th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Benjamin had a promising start to his NFL career, catching 73 passes for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns in his rookie season. However, he struggled with injuries and inconsistency in subsequent seasons. He was traded to the Bills in 2017 and to the Chiefs in 2018.

Benjamin was released by the Chiefs in 2019 and has not played in the NFL since.

Kelvin Benjamin Chiefs Stats

Year	Team	GP	Rec	Yds	TD
2018	Chiefs	16	26	354	2

Kelvin Benjamin Chiefs Highlights

Caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes in Week 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Had a 100-yard receiving game in Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Helped the Chiefs win their first AFC West title since 2010.

Kelvin Benjamin Chiefs

Wide receiver
First-round pick
Promising start
Injury-plagued
Traded
Released

Benjamin was a talented wide receiver who had a promising start to his NFL career. However, he was plagued by injuries and inconsistency, which ultimately led to his release from the Chiefs. Despite his brief stint with the team, Benjamin played a key role in the Chiefs' success in 2018.

1. Wide receiver

A wide receiver (WR) is a player in gridiron football who lines up wide of the offensive line and is responsible for catching passes from the quarterback. Wide receivers are typically fast and agile, with good hands and the ability to run routes effectively. They are also often responsible for blocking for other players on the offense.

Kelvin Benjamin was a wide receiver who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2018 to 2019. He was a first-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in the 2014 NFL Draft and also played for the Buffalo Bills.

Wide receivers are an important part of any football team. They are responsible for catching passes from the quarterback and gaining yards. Wide receivers can also score touchdowns, which are worth six points. In order to be a successful wide receiver, a player must have good hands, speed, and agility. They must also be able to run routes effectively and read the quarterback's intentions.

Kelvin Benjamin was a talented wide receiver who had a promising start to his NFL career. However, he was plagued by injuries and inconsistency, which ultimately led to his release from the Chiefs. Despite his brief stint with the team, Benjamin played a key role in the Chiefs' success in 2018.

2. First-round pick

A first-round pick in the NFL Draft is a highly coveted honor, as it signifies that a player is considered to be one of the best prospects in the country. Kelvin Benjamin was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the 28th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. This was a clear indication that the Panthers believed that Benjamin had the potential to be a star wide receiver in the NFL.

Benjamin did not disappoint in his rookie season, catching 73 passes for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns. He quickly became one of Cam Newton's favorite targets and was a key part of the Panthers' success that season. However, Benjamin's production declined in subsequent seasons due to injuries and inconsistency.

Despite his struggles, Benjamin's status as a first-round pick always gave him a certain level of job security. He was given ample opportunities to prove himself, even when he was not playing at his best. This is a privilege that is not afforded to all players in the NFL.

Ultimately, Benjamin was unable to live up to the expectations that came with being a first-round pick. However, his selection in the first round did give him a chance to showcase his talents at the highest level.

3. Promising start

Kelvin Benjamin had a promising start to his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers. He was drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft and quickly became one of Cam Newton's favorite targets. In his rookie season, he caught 73 passes for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns. He was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

Benjamin's success continued in his second season, as he caught 73 passes for 941 yards and seven touchdowns. However, he began to struggle with injuries in his third season and his production declined. He was traded to the Buffalo Bills in 2017 and to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018.

Benjamin had a brief resurgence with the Chiefs in 2018, catching 26 passes for 354 yards and two touchdowns. However, he was released by the Chiefs in 2019 and has not played in the NFL since.

Despite his struggles, Benjamin's promising start to his NFL career showed that he had the potential to be a star wide receiver. He was a talented player with good size, speed, and hands. However, he was unable to sustain his success due to injuries and inconsistency.

4. Injury-plagued

Kelvin Benjamin's NFL career was plagued by injuries, which ultimately contributed to his decline in production and eventual release from the Kansas City Chiefs. Benjamin suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in the preseason of his rookie year, which caused him to miss the first six games of the season. He also missed four games in 2015 due to a hamstring injury and two games in 2016 due to a concussion.

Benjamin's injuries were a major factor in his inability to live up to his potential. He was never able to fully recover from his ACL injury, and he was also hampered by other injuries throughout his career. As a result, he was unable to consistently produce at a high level, and he eventually lost his starting job.

The Chiefs released Benjamin in 2019 after he failed to make the team's 53-man roster. He has not played in the NFL since. Benjamin's career is a cautionary tale about the importance of staying healthy in the NFL. Injuries can derail even the most promising careers.

5. Traded

In 2017, Kelvin Benjamin was traded from the Carolina Panthers to the Buffalo Bills. This trade was a major turning point in Benjamin's career, as he was no longer the primary target in the Panthers' offense. In Buffalo, Benjamin struggled to adjust to a new quarterback and a new offensive scheme. He also continued to be plagued by injuries.

In 2018, Benjamin was traded again, this time to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs were hoping that Benjamin could be a reliable target for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. However, Benjamin continued to struggle with injuries and inconsistency. He was eventually released by the Chiefs in 2019.

Benjamin's experience is a reminder that being traded can be a difficult experience for a player. It can take time to adjust to a new team and a new offensive system. Additionally, players who are traded may no longer be the primary target in the offense, which can lead to a decline in production.

6. Released

The term "released" is often used in the context of professional sports to indicate that a player has been cut from a team. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including poor performance, injury, or a change in the team's needs.

In the case of Kelvin Benjamin, he was released by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019. This came after a disappointing season in which Benjamin caught just 26 passes for 354 yards and two touchdowns. Benjamin had also been hampered by injuries throughout his career, which likely contributed to his release.

The release of Benjamin was a reminder that even talented players can be cut from a team if they are not performing up to expectations. It is also a reminder that injuries can have a major impact on a player's career.

FAQs about Kelvin Benjamin Chiefs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Kelvin Benjamin and his time with the Chiefs:

Question 1: Why was Kelvin Benjamin released by the Chiefs?

Answer: Benjamin was released by the Chiefs in 2019 after a disappointing season in which he caught just 26 passes for 354 yards and two touchdowns. He had also been hampered by injuries throughout his career.

Question 2: What was Benjamin's role with the Chiefs?

Answer: Benjamin was a backup wide receiver with the Chiefs. He played behind Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins on the depth chart.

Question 3: Did Benjamin have any memorable moments with the Chiefs?

Answer: Yes, Benjamin had a few memorable moments with the Chiefs. In Week 10 of the 2018 season, he caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also had a 100-yard receiving game in Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens.

Question 4: What are Benjamin's career stats with the Chiefs?

Answer: Benjamin played in 16 games for the Chiefs and caught 26 passes for 354 yards and two touchdowns.

Question 5: What is Benjamin doing now?

Answer: Benjamin is currently a free agent.

Summary: Kelvin Benjamin was a talented wide receiver who had a brief but memorable stint with the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite being hampered by injuries, Benjamin played a key role in the Chiefs' success in 2018.

Transition to the next article section: Kelvin Benjamin's time with the Chiefs may have been short-lived, but he made a lasting impact on the team and its fans.

Conclusion

Kelvin Benjamin's time with the Kansas City Chiefs was a brief but memorable one. Despite only playing one season with the team, he made a significant impact, helping the Chiefs win their first AFC West title since 2010. Benjamin was a talented wide receiver who had a promising start to his NFL career, but he was plagued by injuries and inconsistency, which ultimately led to his release from the Chiefs.

Benjamin's story is a reminder that even the most talented players can be derailed by injuries. It is also a reminder that NFL teams are always looking for ways to improve their roster, and players who are not performing up to expectations can be released at any time. Benjamin's release from the Chiefs was a disappointment, but it is also a reminder that the NFL is a business.