The Kansas City Chiefs are widely expected to be among the most active teams ahead of the NFL trade deadline, which arrives Tuesday. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid offered a glimpse into how GM Brett Veach has approached the deadline, and it sure sounds like Kansas City has done its homework.

The expectation around the league, from various media members, is that the Chiefs will acquire a wide receiver before the deadline passes. The need is clear. Kansas City’s receiving group ranks near the bottom of the NFL in impact through the first eight weeks of the 2026 NFL season, whether you measure it by yardage or total touchdowns.

Several names have surfaced in trade discussions, including Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. and Indianapolis Colts WR Josh Downs. It remains to be seen whether the Chiefs will pull the trigger, but not for lack of due diligence.

Asked whether Veach was wearing out the coaching staff with players to consider ahead of the deadline, Reid said it had been a constant for some time.

“Yeah, about a month ago,” Reid joked. “Yeah, he’s been, you know how he is. But that’s good. You know, we just see where it all goes. But he’s great with all that. He doesn’t miss a beat. So, if he can make things happen, he’ll make things happen. You know, I like the guys we have, and he’s in a position where he’s trying to make everything even better than what you’ve got. That’s his job, and he does very well with that.”

Brett Veach has a history of trade deadline deals

Veach isn’t one to shy away from acquiring players. He’s typically more active ahead of an NFL season than around the trade deadline, but he has a track record of midseason moves.

In 2020, Veach traded RB DeAndre Washington and a seventh-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for a sixth-round pick. The following season, he shipped RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif to the New York Jets for TE Daniel Brown and also acquired Melvin Ingram from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a sixth-round draft pick. Probably his biggest deadline deal, he brought WR Kadarius Toney from the New York Giants for third- and sixth-round draft picks. Other in-season additions under Veach include WR DeAndre Hopkins, WR Mecole Hardman, and LB Joshua Uche.

Fans are hoping for a bigger swing this time around, with a more significant investment at wide receiver. My understanding is that if the organization does make a move, it would like to acquire a long-term fixture rather than a one-year rental.

Why the Chiefs want a long-term answer at wide receiver

Here’s the thing about the wide receiver position in Kansas City: the Chiefs have struggled to find what they consider long-term options.

The team’s top receiving target at wide receiver, Rashee Rice, is on an expiring deal after the 2026 NFL season. Travis Kelce’s future is uncertain. Tyquan Thornton is returning from his ankle dislocation. Combine all of that, and the Chiefs need a solid veteran they can rely on for multiple seasons to help stabilize the position group.

Whether Veach can find that player remains to be seen. Reid summed up the general manager’s role simply. His job is to make everything even better than what you’ve already got.

Wide receiver isn’t the only position the Chiefs could target

Kansas City believes in its core and the roster it has built, but it knows there are areas to improve. Wide receiver is the most obvious one. Other positions they could target include the offensive and defensive lines. However, they’d likely have to acquire a receiver through other means to open those up.

Any trade has to make sense for both sides, and both parties have to agree. The Chiefs won’t make a deal just to make a deal. It needs to be right for them, with the right compensation in terms of draft capital, player value, and contractual obligation.

Why is it taking so long for Chiefs GM Brett Veach to get a deal done?

The Chiefs have a history of being diligent. They don’t want to close themselves off from a better opportunity by striking too quickly. Things change in the NFL weekly, and other players could become available after the results of Week 9. With practice underway for the New York Jets, I wouldn’t expect an addition before Sunday. With the deadline fast approaching, the next few days should reveal whether Veach finds a deal worth making or whether Kansas City rides with the group it already has.