Kadarius Toney was a breath of fresh air for the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense last season, and expectations are high for him in 2023 after he became a crucial part of their gameplans after some time to adjust to Andy Reid’s system.
Now entering his second year with the team, Toney was named as a potential breakout candidate by Pro Football Focus analyst Zoltán Buday in a recent breakdown of the NFL’s rising stars.
Why will Toney have a breakout season in 2023? Just turn on the tape of last year’s Super Bowl to find the answer. Toney was on the field for only seven snaps and still scored a touchdown and had a decisive punt return. Add in JuJu Smith-Schuster‘s departure and a whole offseason for Toney in Kansas City, and it is understandable why Chiefs fans are excited about the potential of the former Giants wide receiver.
Though he will face stiff competition for consistent snaps from Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore and rookie Rashee Rice, Toney seems to have the inside track to be Kansas City’s number-one option when the regular season starts in September. He made the most of his opportunities on limited snaps in the Super Bowl and could make an outsized impact with a greater piece of the pie.
Time will tell if he can live up to the ever-growing hype surrounding his role in the Chiefs’ offense, but with the wind at his back and reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes throwing him the ball, it seems that nothing except injury can stop Toney from fulfilling this destiny.