Latest report has Kansas City Chiefs’ trade interests shifting from the running back position to the defensive side of the ball
The Kansas City Chiefs could be looking to beef up the defensive line at the trade deadline.
The Kansas City Chiefs are on the hunt to improve their 53-man roster with the NFL’s trade deadline rapidly approaching. It remains to be seen whether they will make a deal before Nov. 4 at 4:00 p.m. ET, but GM Brett Veach will do his diligence on potential trades either way.
What positions could Veach be looking at to improve his team? That seems to be up for debate based on a recent report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
“The Chiefs are shopping for defensive linemen — but not running backs,” Russini wrote.
It’s not exactly the most prolific report. Yet, it contradicts recent reports from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, which indicate that the Chiefs had been shopping around for running backs.
This shift would make a lot of sense, though. Kansas City’s defensive line has struggled to produce pressure with a four-man rush, and it could use another piece to round out the room. Those needs may get even more dire on the defensive interior if rookie DT Omarr Norman-Lott’s knee injury turns out to be a serious one.
On the flip side, they’ve got the emergence of rookie running back Brashard Smith, who is providing some of the explosion that Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt seem to lack.
Chiefs D-Line Trade Hot Board: Which players make sense for Kansas City?
Jets DE Jermaine Johnson II: A former first-round draft pick, Johnson appears to be reaching wit’s end in New York. Johnson was productive in his first two seasons with the Jets, producing 10 sacks in 31 games. He missed most of the 2024 season with an Achilles injury, and his production hasn’t quite been the same since. He’s produced just one sack during a snake-bitten 2025 season for new head coach Aaron Glenn, but he’s also still on his rookie deal.
Titans DL Dre’Mont Jones: Tennessee has reportedly told people that a trade for DT Jeffrey Simmons is off the table, but Jones could likely be had for minimal cost. Jones has a sack, seven total pressures, and five defensive stops on the season. If Omarr Norman-Lott is out for a period of time, I feel that Jones has a similar skill set and body type to fill some of the roles the rookie had been performing for the defense.
Chiefs 2025 D-Line Stats Quick Facts
- Total pressures through six games: 86
- Sacks through six games: 9
Dolphins DE Bradley Chubb: The Dolphins are reportedly willing to listen to offers on Jaelan Phillips, Matt Judon, and Chubb. While the younger Phillips might be more appealing, Chubb fits Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme a bit better. There’s also the fact that he has four sacks on the season compared to two sacks for Phillips. There’s some greater appeal to adding a veteran at the midseason mark, knowing they’re more likely to pick up a defense and contribute.
Saints DT Bryan Bresee: There’s no telling if the Saints would be willing to unload Bresee, their first-round draft pick from 2023, but if they do, he’d be an excellent get no matter the cost. I suspect that he would’ve been the Chiefs’ pick that year had New Orleans not selected him at pick No. 29 in 2023, three spots before Kansas City came on the clock. He’s likely the most prominent impact run defender that is anywhere close to being available, with nine defensive stops and a forced fumble on the season. He’s also not a bad pass rusher with 15 pressures and a sack on the year.
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