Chase Claypool, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Why it makes sense:
Chase Claypool finds himself in a weird spot with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Deionte Johnson is the clear number one guy. With the emergence of George Pickens, Claypool now becomes the third guy in line for a quarterback that may be replaced by a new quarterback in the next couple of seasons. Claypool looks more like a luxury than a need on a team that is destined to miss the playoffs and head into a retooling/rebuilding offseason. For the Chiefs, Claypool would be a very productive player in the middle of the field.
Possible Compensation:
Claypool’s compensation would likely be pretty steep. With another year on his rookie deal, the former second-round pick may garner a 2nd and a future mid to late-round pick. The Chiefs only have two players at wide receiver under contract past next year: Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdez-Scantling. While Claypool has been good to very good, he would not be the top-receiving option for Kansas City. JuJu Smith-Schuster would likely keep that role with the Chiefs, whether Claypool was added or not. So, would the payoff be worth it? That’s for Brett Veach and the Chiefs to decide.
The Bottom Line:
Claypool would be a welcome addition to the wide receiver room. A tough, point-of-attack type receiver is something that the Chiefs don’t currently have outside of the tight end room. Claypool could create a new problem for opposing defenses to defend. If he would join the Chiefs, stopping Claypool, Kelce, and Fortson in the red zone might be nearly impossible.
Da’Ron Payne, DT, Washington Commanders
Why it makes sense:
Washington is in shambles and may be on the verge of hitting the ‘reset’ button on the entire franchise. Not the coach, the quarterback, nor even the owner is safe. At the bottom of the NFC East, now might be the time to have a fire sale. For the Chiefs, Da’Ron Payne offers another pass-rushing option that they desperately need. The combination of Payne and Jones may be lethal.
Possible Compensation:
With 3.5 sacks, 6 tackles for a loss, and 9 quarterback hits, Payne might be a hot commodity at the trade deadline. It seems likely that Payne may garner a high-end pick due to his young age and cheap-ish contract for the remainder of the year. Any team that trades for him would likely have to sign him long-term, but that may be a move that the Chiefs are willing to make. He could get moved for a second-round pick.
The Bottom Line:
At 325 pounds, Payne is more suited for a 3-4 nose tackle than a 4-3 defensive tackle. With that in mind, Steve Spagnuolo would be happy to have a run stuffer with some upside as a pass-rusher. Danny Shelton is enormous and he remains on the practice squad. With top-end talent, Spagnuolo would love to have Payne bringing the heat on the opposite side of Chris Jones, which may make the Chiefs a more potent defense.
Cameron Heyward, DT/DE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Why it makes sense:
Cameron Heyward is entering the twilight of his career. Is it certain that he will want to stick around for a rebuild? No. Absolutely not. Perhaps he would like to go to a contender for one last chance at a Super Bowl. For the Chiefs, this seems unlikely due to his age and price tag. For the Steelers and Heyward, this is not out of the question.
Possible Compensation:
At 33, Heyward is not going to have a big market for the long term. With the contract attached to him, his market might be even smaller. If the Chiefs did decide to call about him, they would likely offer a fourth or fifth-round pick. Anything more seems like too much for his production, age, and contract combination.
The Bottom Line:
This one seems like the least likely option on the list. With that in mind, the Chiefs might decide that a seasoned veteran that can rush the passer is exactly what they need. With the Steelers in a clear decline for this year, Heyward might be on the block for the right price.