Latest updates as Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach continues to pursue wide receiver help ahead of NFL’s trade deadline
The Kansas City Chiefs haven’t found a willing partner for a wide receiver trade just yet. Here’s where things stand as Brett Veach works the phones and national insiders weigh in on potential targets.
The Kansas City Chiefs are still searching for help at wide receiver ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. GM Brett Veach has been active on the phones. So far, though, the Chiefs haven’t found a deal that works for both sides.
CBS Sports reporter Tracy Wolfson offered an update on the latest trade talks from the sidelines of the Chiefs’ Week 9 win over the New York Jets. According to Wolfson, Kansas City remains zeroed in on adding a wide receiver. Other NFL clubs have turned away some of those pursuits, however.
“As we’ve been talking about the lack of deep threats for the Chiefs, and I spoke with GM Brett Veach before the game,” Wolfson said. “He told me that as the trade deadline approaches, the focus continues to be at that wide receiver position. There has been increased dialogue this week, and he found that some of the major franchise players they looked at are off the market, but they will continue to have conversations over the next 24 hours to see if they can get something done by the trade deadline.”
Wolfson told viewers during the broadcast: “There will be increased dialogue as week 9 comes to a close. And perhaps some of those conversations over those major franchise players might change.”
The Chiefs have hit a few walls in their search. Even so, the need for the Chiefs might be even more dire after WR Xavier Worthy suffered a non-contact hamstring injury late in Week 9’s win over the Jets. Worthy couldn’t put any weight on his hamstring on the sideline after the injury. K.C. immediately ruled him out, which is never a good sign.
Colts WR Josh Downs emerges as a name to watch for the Chiefs
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported ahead of kickoff in Week 9 that the Chiefs are among the teams interested in Colts wide receiver Josh Downs. Schefter reported that a player like Downs would cost a fourth-round pick.
“We’re going to start with Brian Thomas, who played only 19 plays on Thursday night,” Schefter said. “Jacksonville has resisted trade overtures so far, but it sounds like they’re going to listen before Tuesday. We’ll see if they make a deal for teams that can’t get Brian Thomas Jr. They might be interested in the veteran Calvin Ridley. The Titans have shown no willingness so far to trade running back Tony Pollard, but they are open to moving Calvin Ridley for a late-round draft pick. Josh Downs sounds like he could be on the move this week for a fourth-round draft pick. Kansas City is interested. Pittsburgh is interested. Teams looking for a receiver are interested. This could be Josh Downs’ final game with the Colts today.”
Kansas City might have to up the ante if another team, such as Pittsburgh, is also willing to meet that price. The Chiefs may already be ahead of that curve, too. Netflix’s Tom Pelissero reported that there’s an offer on the table for Downs that includes a fourth-round pick and an additional pick. According to Pelissero, it might take a third-round pick for the Colts to make a move. That offer sure sounds like something K.C. could put together.
Downs isn’t a household name, but he fits the profile of a receiver who could produce right away in Andy Reid’s offense. A third-round pick is a steep price for a complementary piece. However, the cost would look far more reasonable if Downs fills a real need for the rest of the season.
The Chiefs’ trade deadline strategy
Kansas City’s approach seems to be to take this thing down to the wire. The Chiefs want to see what shakes free and whether they can secure a franchise-altering player at wide receiver.
If that doesn’t happen, the team appears willing to add a middle-of-the-pack receiver. That type of player might not be a superstar, but he could thrive in the Chiefs’ offensive system as a tertiary piece. Plenty of receivers have carved out productive roles in Kansas City without being the top target in the passing game.
The worst-case scenario for Kansas City would be failing to make a trade. Now, with Worthy hurt, the need for an addition is that much greater. Tyquan Thornton is on injured reserve. Nikko Remigio is battling a hip injury. They simply don’t have the horses right now and need to add some level of contributor to the offense.
Veach has shown a willingness to wait out the market in past seasons, and that patience appears to be back. The next few days will tell whether the conversations Wolfson described turn into a deal, or whether the Chiefs stick with what they have.
