The Kansas City Chiefs could be in the market for a wide receiver once they learn the severity of WR Rashee Rice's knee injury. The team appears to expect the worst-case scenario, a torn ACL for Rice.
I'd be a bit surprised to see the Chiefs venture too deep into free agency, practice squad poaching, or trade acquisitions, even if that worst-case scenario is realized. They had an opportunity to do so with Hollywood Brown's injury and they already added JuJu Smith-Schuster. The team currently has eight receivers between the 53-man roster and the practice squad. Those players will likely be called upon to get the job done in the meantime no matter what.
Midseason acquisitions always have a challenge getting up to speed, especially in an Andy Reid-coached offense. The Chiefs will also have a budget if they're going to go shopping. They have just $4.9M in available salary cap space and they're not going to spend all of that money. They could, of course, move some money around because the salary cap is malleable.
With all of that in mind, here's a quick look at some of the best options for Kansas City.
Best free agent options for the Chiefs
Michael Thomas: From a role standpoint, Thomas is probably the player who is best equipped to fill in for Rice. He had 39 receptions for 448 yards and a touchdown with the Saints a season ago. His 6-foot-3 and 215-pound size would be welcomed in Rice's absence.
Hunter Renfrow: At one point, Renfrow was one of the best slot receivers in the NFL. He's without a job four weeks into the 2024 NFL season after a major drop-off with the Las Vegas Raiders over the last few seasons. It's worth bringing him in for a workout to see if he's got anything left in the tank.
Julio Jones: The 35-year-old is only a year removed from a 300-yard and two-touchdown season with the Buccaneers. If he wants to ring chase, he'd bring some size to the Chiefs' offense that they'll now be lacking without Rice.
Cornell Powell: One of the only free agents out there who has actually played with the Chiefs, Powell could be a good addition to the 53-man roster or the practice squad. He's proven more valuable to Kansas City than any other team over the years, which is why a return could make some sense.
Best practice squad poaching options for the Chiefs
Malik Cunningham (Ravens): Picking up Andy Reid's offense midseason isn't easy, so why not take a swing on a quarterback-turned-wide receiver? He has the speed and quickness to succeed, but he needs refinement as a route-runner. Perhaps, a worthy long-term project, who would be asked to learn on the fly.
Collin Johnson (Bears): A big and powerful wideout for the Bears, who the Chiefs saw during the preseason. Johnson could certainly replicate some of those tough YAC yards that Kansas City is losing with Rice. It's just a matter of getting him up to speed and being able to do so quickly.
Erik Ezukanma (Dolphins): The Chiefs showed interest in Ezukanma ahead of the 2022 NFL draft, bringing him to Kansas City on a top-30 visit. A Dallas-Fort Worth native who played at Patrick Mahomes' alma mater, Ezukanma has a single reception for three yards in his NFL career. He lacks for experience, but you never know what potential could be unlocked with a fresh opportunity.
Kadarius Toney (Browns): Technically, Toney is Andy Reid's best-ever midseason trade acquisition at the wide receiver position. If the Chiefs feel he could add value to the offense (as a receiver and maybe even out of the backfield), his return to Kansas City would be relatively painless. It'd just take an entire fanbase coming to terms with it.
Best trade options for the Chiefs
Amari Cooper (Browns): Cooper is one of the only players who realistically makes from a financial perspective as the Chiefs would owe him just $1.2M. He'd also probably cost a pretty penny in draft capital given he plays in the AFC. When it comes to his role and fit, he could play both outside or that big/power slot role in Kansas City.
Diontae Johnson (Panthers): Affording Johnson's cap hit would take some financial acrobatics. However, he's worth mentioning given that the Chiefs have shown prior interest. ESPN's Dan Graziano recently linked Johnson to Kansas City as a trade deadline target.
Darius Slayton (Giants): When it comes to picking up the offense on the fly, Slayton might be the quickest study coming from former Chiefs QB coach Mike Kafka's offense in New York. He's also on a bad NFC team and has a relatively affordable contract compared to other options. This one could make a lot of sense for Kansas City.
Demarcus Robinson (Rams): If the Rams keep losing, they might be willing to part with the former Chiefs receiver. Right now, he's holding down the fort while Puka Nakua and Cooper Kupp deal with injuries. Robinson and Mahomes always had a tremendous connection, even dating back to 2017 when No. 15 was just a rookie.
