After being selected in the fifth round (pick 176) of last weekend’s NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs will be the fourth football program in four years for wide receiver Cyrus Allen.
On Monday, Chiefs Vice President of Personnel Ryne Nutt discussed how the team landed on Allen, who played for Louisiana Tech, Texas A&M, and Cincinnati over four college seasons. He led the FBS division of college football with 13 touchdowns in 2025, his only season with the Bearcats.
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Nutt was moved by what he learned from the Cincinnati staff.
“Cyrus was someone who got to Cincinnati late,” Nutt explained. “He dislocated his elbow while he was at Texas A&M. So, he was rehabbing most of the spring. When I went in there, they just talked about the eagerness and the drive of this kid trying to get back on the field. Cyrus is talented, and he was just under the radar.”
Allen put himself firmly on the radar after the season by participating in a pair of all-star games.
“He went to the American Bowl,” Nutt recalled, “which was kind of a lesser all-star game — and he blew it out of the water. He showed foot speed, quickness and route running. He was routing dudes left and right on the field — enough so to get him invited to the Senior Bowl. At the Senior Bowl, he does the same thing to first top these top comp corners.
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“So, right there, we knew this kid is a competitor, and he’s talented, and maybe we’ve got to take a second look at him. Maybe we were a little low on him initially.”
When Allen spoke after being drafted on Saturday, we learned that he had previously taken a 30-minute visit to Kansas City, which had not been reported.
He knew the visit went well, and he is excited to play at Arrowhead Stadium once again; it was the site of Cincinnati’s season-opening 20-17 loss to Nebraska last year.
“I felt like I showed a lot of character,” Allen recalled. “I’m a guy that’s going to bring a lot of energy every day. That was my first 30 visit, so I knew they were the most interested in me. Our first game playing for Cincinnati was in the Chiefs’ stadium, and it just felt surreal and felt good to be there.”
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Nutt agreed with Allen’s assessment.
“Throughout the process,” remarked Nutt, “we just felt like he crushed it. He had a really good pro day. He showed he could return punts at the pro day. We had a really good Zoom. Coaches love his energy and his competitiveness. So, hat’s off to the kid. Throughout the entire process, he’s just checked every box in a good way and improved. We’re excited to have that kid.”
Allen knows that the pair of showcases was crucial to his draft process. Being drafted is a testament to the work he did after the regular season.
“I just wanted to show people that I’m a good player,” said Allen. “That I can play outside. I can play all three spots that are on the field, and I have no problem getting off press. I just wanted to show my versatility.”
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At least initially, the Chiefs expect to keep him in the slot. Allen predicts that he will be able to show his strengths in any role.
“I feel that I thrive in one-on-one situations,” he declared, “and that’s where I’m going to eat at.”
