All this week, we’re offering trade ideas for the Chiefs as they near the 2017 NFL Draft. Today’s idea? Packers TE Richard Rodgers.
Kansas City Chiefs receive: Richard Rodgers
Green Bay Packers receive: 2017 5th round pick (170 overall)
The Green Bay Packers have surprised a few folks around the NFL this offseason by diving into free agency quite a bit more than normal. A team that traditionally eschews free agents for the sake of allowing their own draft-and-develop process to replace the departed, the Packers clearly came into the offseason with a plan of attack for the tight end position. Despite the presence of their own former third round choice Richard Rodgers, the Packers signed two tight ends: former Rams TE Lance Kendricks and former Patriots TE Martellus Bennett.
The imports of Bennett and Kendricks bring with them 161 total targets from last season, so the idea that there’s any room for a third is ridiculous. Rodgers is clearly on the outs, and the Packers would be wise to get something in return. Enter the Chiefs, who have a plethora of draft picks and a serious lack of proven talent beyond All-Pro Travis Kelce. Given how quickly Alex Smith gets rid of the football, a nice two-TE set could work wonders for Andy Reid. Unfortunately the Chiefs lack that second tight end.
Rodgers would be the perfect addition for the Chiefs at this point, a young tight end entering his contract year who will be looking to put on a show in the hopes of a nice payday. Rodgers is certainly no Kelce, but the Chiefs aren’t looking for that. They just need hands that are more proven than Demetrius Harris and James O’Shaughnessy.
Speaking of Harris, a trade for Rodgers would eliminate any more concerns about Demetrius Harris’ recent arrest for felony possession of marijuana. The team could easily drop him to third tight end and make him compete for a lone roster spot or release him outright. Either way, the team wouldn’t be entering 2017 dependent upon Harris for significant minutes.