The Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday came at a significant cost, as wide receiver Rashee Rice may have suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the first quarter. Despite a rough start, the Chiefs rallied for a 17-10 win, improving to 4-0 on the season. However, Rice’s injury presents a major challenge moving forward, even for the reigning back-to-back Super Bowl champions and one of only two undefeated teams this season.
Rice’s injury is especially concerning given that the Chiefs have already lost Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Isiah Pacheco to long-term injuries. While the team has shown resilience—thanks to a strong defense and the presence of stars like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce—there is growing concern about their ability to stay competitive. Xavier Worthy had a standout long touchdown this week, but if the Chiefs hope to continue their quest for an NFL-first Super Bowl “three-peat,” they may need to consider a trade for additional wide receiver depth.
With around $4.6 million in cap space and multiple draft picks, including an extra 3rd and 7th rounder in 2025, the Chiefs have the resources to make a deal. NFL insider Josina Anderson hinted on Sunday night that Kansas City might pursue a high-profile wide receiver trade to fill the gap left by Rice’s injury.
Let’s take a look at some of the top wide receiver trade targets the Chiefs could consider.
This year’s trade deadline is Nov 5th, 4pm EST.
There are a number of WRs who’ve always expressed interest in playing for Kansas City, if it gets to that & the organization feels that adding receiver depth is necessary over the long haul. https://t.co/mbEjmHPFr1
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 30, 2024
DeAndre Hopkins – 6’0″, 200 lbs, 32 years old, Tennessee Titans
DeAndre Hopkins has long been linked to the Chiefs, though no deal has ever been reached. The 32-year-old is set to be a free agent after this season, and with the Titans sitting at 0-3 ahead of their Monday night matchup with Miami, they may consider trading him. Quarterback Will Levis hasn’t proven to be the solution so far, so trading Hopkins could help the Titans in their pursuit of a replacement.
Hopkins has struggled with injuries this season and has just 8 catches for 90 yards and a touchdown in three games, though he topped 1,000 yards just last season. The challenge in trading for Hopkins is his cap number, which would likely exceed $10 million, meaning the Chiefs would need to make some financial adjustments.
c – 6’1″, 211 lbs, 30 years old, Cleveland Browns
Amari Cooper is another veteran wide receiver who could be available, as the Browns have had a rough 1-3 start to the season and may look to move on from the Deshaun Watson experiment. Cooper could be the most impactful option, as he’s only 30 and still performing well.
Through four games this season, Cooper has 16 receptions for 148 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he totaled over 1,200 yards last season. Best of all, if traded, his cap hit for the Chiefs would only be about $1 million due to his contract structure, making him a more affordable option.
Diontae Johnson – 5’10”, 183 lbs, 28 years old, Carolina Panthers
Diontae Johnson is another top receiver who has been linked to the Chiefs. As the Panthers appear destined for another difficult season, Johnson could be available since he’s playing on a one-year deal.
However, Johnson’s $10 million contract would require the Chiefs to work on their cap. He has been a crucial part of Carolina’s offense, with 20 catches for 239 yards and 2 touchdowns already. Trading him could be controversial for the Panthers, especially if they plan to reinsert Bryce Young as their starter later in the season.
Potential Brett Veach Reclamation Projects
Brett Veach has a history of targeting former top prospects who haven’t lived up to their potential. The following wide receivers could be affordable options for the Chiefs.
Treylon Burks – 6’2″, 225 lbs, 24 years old, Tennessee Titans
Treylon Burks has struggled in the NFL so far, but if Veach is looking for a player to develop for the long term, Burks could be a fit. Burks has a skillset similar to Rice’s—great after the catch and hard to bring down. He only has 2 catches this season, but his cap hit would be around $2 million, with one year left on his contract.
Jonathan Mingo – 6’2″, 220 lbs, 23 years old, Carolina Panthers
Jonathan Mingo, in his second season, has had a slow start. With the Panthers already seeing rookie Xavier Legette outproduce him, Mingo might be expendable. Like Burks, Mingo is a physically impressive player who lacks polished route-running skills. His cap hit would be around $1.2 million, and he’s under contract for two more seasons.
Jalin Hyatt – 6’0″, 185 lbs, 23 years old, New York Giants
Jalin Hyatt, a speedster drafted by the Giants, has yet to record a catch this season. Though his style may fit Andy Reid’s offense, the Chiefs already have a similar player in Xavier Worthy, who has outshined Hyatt. Trading for Hyatt may not add much to Kansas City’s offense, but his cap hit would be minimal.
Elijah Moore – 5’10”, 180 lbs, 24 years old, Cleveland Browns
Elijah Moore, who was traded from the Jets to the Browns, has shown flashes of potential but hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. While smaller than Burks or Mingo, Moore has good after-the-catch ability. His cap hit would be around $3 million, making him a possible option for Kansas City.
Reliable but Affordable Options
If the Chiefs don’t want to break the bank or gamble on potential projects, these three receivers could be cost-effective, dependable additions.
Darius Slayton – 6’1″, 198 lbs, 27 years old, New York Giants
Slayton, a proven deep threat, had 770 yards last season and could immediately contribute to Kansas City’s offense. He’s on a one-year deal, with a cap hit of around $6 million, though the Giants might be willing to absorb part of his salary in exchange for a draft pick.
Demarcus Robinson – 6’1″, 202 lbs, 30 years old, Los Angeles Rams
A familiar face for Chiefs fans, Demarcus Robinson could return to Kansas City after a solid year with the Rams. Robinson is on a one-year deal with a $2.5 million cap hit, but with injuries to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, the Rams may not be eager to trade him.
K.J. Osborn – 6’0″, 200 lbs, 27 years old, New England Patriots
K.J. Osborn, who joined the Patriots this season, has struggled to find a role, with only 5 catches for 31 yards. However, he was a solid third receiver in Minnesota last year, with 48 receptions for 540 yards and 3 touchdowns. Osborn’s cap hit would be around $2 million, making him a low-cost, reliable option.
