The Kansas City Chiefs salvaged their wide receiver room this offseason by re-signing Tyquan Thornton, but the team still lacks depth at the position. Xavier Worthy’s injury history, Rashee Rice’s looming 2027 free agency and off-field issues and Jalen Royals’ unproven profile leave the door open for Kansas City to add another receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Malachi Fields is 6'4.5", 218 lbs. with 32 1/8" arms and an 82nd percentile wingspan. He is a true X receiver with elite size that translated to double-digit contested catches in each of the past three seasons. He and players like Thornton and Rice win in completely different ways, allowing them to coexist in an offense.
Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields' best moments against Texas A&M. #NFLDraft #NFLDraft2026 #2026NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/2ICG8pOZIB
Fields uses his sturdy frame to absorb and battle through contact at the line of scrimmage. Despite being a larger, slower receiver, he runs routes with tempo and quick footwork that help him generate separation at the intermediate level of the field. Fields isn’t a speedster. He won’t take the top off the defense, although it’s worth throwing the occasional 50-50 ball his way on a fade.
The special element of Fields’ game is his ability to sink at the top of his stem. He gets out of his break on comebacks and curls quicker and cleaner than some receivers who are six inches shorter and 40 pounds lighter. He is a polished route runner with impressive ball skills that maximize his massive catch radius.
Fields attacks the football at the apex, preventing defensive backs in his air space from disrupting his process of completing the catch. He contorts his frame for off-target throws and projects as a lethal back shoulder fade option. Fields deploys his hands late to prevent defenders from raking the ball free. Even when a defender gets his hands into Fields’ breadbasket, the redshirt senior is strong enough to finish receptions through contact.
Oh my Malachi Fields. Sheesh! pic.twitter.com/qAn1VeQ6M0
Fields also offers value as a stalk blocker in the run game. Unfortunately, he brings very little to the table after the catch. He isn’t elusive and lacks the power to plow through would-be tacklers.
Fields relies heavily on contested catch opportunities because he generates inconsistent separation and runs a limited route tree. Press corners capable of matching his power stymie his routes at the line of scrimmage. Fields’ struggles to win downfield allow defenders to play tight on him at the line of scrimmage.
Fields is a fourth round-caliber talent who probably rises into the mid-third round.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields