Skyy Moore expects this Chiefs role in 2023: ’I’m excited to just show the world’

Kansas City Chiefs receiver Skyy Moore says he’s looking forward to Thursday’s opener against the Detroit Lions, partly to flash all he’s been working on this offseason.

“I feel like a lot of people — our fanbase — hasn’t really got to see me really work yet, you know what I’m saying?” Moore said in an interview with The Star on Monday. “I know who I am. I know what I’m capable of. And so I’m excited to just show the world.”

The second-year wideout is in a different place compared to a season ago.

Moore, a second-round pick for the Chiefs in 2022, spent most of last season getting accustomed to the offense. KC’s coaches had him learn multiple receiver positions, which put him in a spot where he often was thinking about his assignment instead of playing freely.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said he could sense Moore becoming more at ease late last season, and that went to “another level” during organized team activities and into training camp.

“So I’m excited for him to showcase where he’s at,” Mahomes said Sunday. “He’s always been talented, but how comfortable he is within the offense, getting more opportunity ... I’m excited for him to go out there and show everybody what I’ve been seeing.”

Moore thinks he’ll have a familiar niche this season.

The 5-foot-10 receiver believes his place in coordinator Matt Nagy’s offense will be similar to what the Chiefs had with JuJu Smith-Schuster last year.

“Coach (Andy) Reid and Coach Nags do a good job of putting people in position to make plays to their strengths. Everything that they’re good at, they like to incorporate that into the offense as we get rolling,” Moore said. “But I feel like I’m gonna definitely take on that JuJu role, and those type of routes. You guys remember what type of routes he ran. But it definitely feels like I’m kind of in his spot.”

Smith-Schuster, who signed with the New England Patriots this offseason, also happened to be one of Moore’s favorite receivers growing up as a Steelers fan in New Kensington, Pennsylvania.

When asked what duties the JuJu role might entail with the Chiefs this year, Moore said, “Just somebody to win matchups, go across the middle, do nice little sit routes, deep crosses — routes like that.”

Smith-Schuster led all Chiefs receivers (not including tight end Travis Kelce) with 78 catches and 933 receiving yards in 2022. Moore, to compare, had 22 receptions for 250 yards.

Moore said that while he and the 6-1 Smith-Schuster weren’t similar body types, they do many of the same things well. One duty Moore expected to have was finding post-snap vacancies in zone defenses to provide Mahomes an outlet.

“That’s what I felt like I worked on, just being a smarter player,” Moore said. “My college coach always said, ‘A smarter player is a better player.’ So I feel like that’s gonna take it to the next level. I’m on Level 2 of the NFL now.”

Moore received starter treatment by Chiefs coaches during the preseason. He received six snaps in Game 1, 19 in the second contest and six in the third while only playing with the first-team offense.

That meant a mostly quiet preseason stat line — two catches for six yards — even with things going to plan.

“You’ve just got to understand what the preseason’s for,” Moore said. “It’s for us to ramp up, and for the coaching staff to see everybody.”

While other teammates might’ve had greater preseason production, the Chiefs’ actions suggest they expect a lot from Moore. That appears to include general manager Brett Veach, who said in an interview last week that he anticipated a “big jump” for Moore this season.

The first chance to prove himself will be Thursday, when Moore says he’ll have plenty of family members attending.

“Everybody and their mom’s gonna be there at the game. It’s a Thursday night. The whole world’s watching,” Moore said with a smile. “It’s just everything to be excited about.”