KC Chiefs trade for Kadarius Toney from Giants

The Kansas City Chiefs have traded for wide receiver Kadarius Toney in a deal with the New York Giants.

The Kansas City Chiefs looked like a team that might address a need or two before the NFL’s looming trade deadline on November 1. On Thursday, they made a deal with the New York Giants to send a 3rd-round pick and a sixth-round choice in exchange for former first-round wide receiver Kadarius Toney.

Per NFL reporter Jordan Schultz, the Chiefs have traded for Toney, who will join the team during the bye week in a move that should help them in multiple ways.

Toney joins the Chiefs just one season after being taken at No. 20 overall by the Giants. If that seems like a short stint with the team, it is, but it’s important to remember that the current leadership regime in New York was not responsible for the selection. This spring, they also chose wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, which made Toney redundant and, therefore, expendable.

Toney had 39 catches for 420 yards and zero touchdowns last season for the Giants in a limited role that was frustrating for both sides. Toney has had a difficult time staying healthy in the NFL, which was something critics were worried about coming into the league given his slight build. At the same time, Toney was drafted so early for good reason: his ability to turn any play into a big one will remind fans of Tyreek Hill. He’s ultra-dangerous in space and he also gives the team a major upgrade at returner.

For the Chiefs, Toney is a classic Brett Veach move of buying low on a player who was a former high-round draft asset. This time, however, he gains control of a player with two full years left on his contract in addition to this one, with Toney locked in a rookie deal through 2024 (with a potential fifth-year option for 2025). That’s a cost-controlled asset at a position where only Skyy Moore was guaranteed to be on the team in ’23. (Marquez Valdes-Scantling has a series of team options.