The Kansas City Chiefs are one of only three remaining undefeated teams after advancing to 4-0 on Sunday with a dramatic 30-27 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. After a disappointing season in 2025, the Chiefs look poised to possibly return to Super Bowl contention this year if they can work through a few of their issues. However, after both Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton suffered injuries on Sunday, their top priority has to be restocking the wide receiver room.
While the Chiefs may be hopeful that Rice's hamstring injury won't keep him out long-term, Tyquan Thornton is likely out for an extended time after suffering a brutal-looking ankle injury late in the game Sunday. Thornton had been so good that there was a strong case to be made that the Chiefs should make him their clear top wideout going forward. Now, with Rice at least limited in the short term and no Thornton at all, the Chiefs' wideout room simply isn't up to Super Bowl standards.
Xavier Worthy finally made a great contested catch down the field on Sunday, but he still looks more like a role player than anything else. Meanwhile, the Chiefs continue to seem hesitant to put more on the plates of young players like Cyrus Allen and Jaylen Royals. They may not have a choice in getting those two more involved now, but even if they do, they still likely need to make another significant addition.
There is one clear favorite move KC could make in free agency and a few trade deals that might make sense, but if KC wants its offense to keep clicking, Brett Veach needs to get on the phone and get one of these players in KC as soon as possible.
Tyreek Hill - Free Agent
This is the move everyone is talking about and expecting at this point. Hill was obviously a huge part of the first Reid/Mahomes Super Bowl win and is just sitting out there in free agency after suffering a major knee injury and parting ways with the rebuilding Miami Dolphins last season. It's pretty clear that Hill would like to come back to KC and play with Mahomes/compete for Super Bowls again, but there are two HUGE questions that could impact this move.
- Is Tyreek Hill healthy?
- Will he demand a massive star wide receiver contract?
A Tyreek reunion seems like a storybook ending to this situation for both him and the team, but if he can't pass a physical anytime soon, then it doesn't matter how much both sides would like it to happen. Plus, Hill has a history of wanting to be paid top dollar, and his age, injury status, and KC's financial situation make that unlikely.
Marvin Harrison Jr. - Arizona Cardinals
The second-most popular name out there is the Cardinals' Marvin Harrison Jr. While this move looks good at first glance, it may not make as much sense as some KC fans would like it to. Yes, it seems like the former 4th overall pick looks like he could use a fresh start after not living up to his lofty name and expectations coming out of college, and KC could use a franchise receiver to solidify its wideout room for Patrick Mahomes going forward.
Here's the problem. Marvin Harrison hasn't lived up to the hype so far in his career because he hasn't been very good at creating separation and getting open. Guess what KC's biggest issue with its wide receivers has been? That's right, not getting separation and getting open. It's likely the Cardinals will still want a decent return for Harrison, and giving up valuable picks for a wideout that struggles like KC's other wideouts struggle may not be the gamble to take despite Harrison's upside.
Brian Thomas Jr. - Jacksonville Jaguars
If the Chiefs wanted to take a big swing on a former 1st-round draft pick, Brian Thomas Jr. makes more sense than Marvin Harrison Jr. The biggest reason is that Thomas is a better fit to replace Tyquan Thornton than Harrison is. Thomas is more of a big-play vertical threat that can stretch the field, as opposed to Harrison, who would be more of a physical possession receiver.
Thomas burst onto the scene as a rookie, putting up 87 receptions for over 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns. However, in his 2nd season, he had a drastic drop-off in use and production, and now this season he only has 9 receptions through the first four games. Meanwhile, Parker Washington has emerged as Jacksonville's number one wideout and is seeking a big payday. The Jaguars also have the underrated Jakobi Meyers, a reliable and productive possession receiver. Jacksonville is also reportedly high on rookie Josh Cameron.
The question is whether the Jaguars would consider depleting Trevor Lawrence's wideout depth to help a team that they might be competing with in the AFC playoffs. If they are open to it, the price tag will likely be steep, so Brett Veach will really need to believe in the player.
Chris Godwin - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Godwin may not have the buzz and big name of the first three names on this list, but it could be a less expensive deal that makes some sense. The Buccaneers are off to an 0-4 start, and with Godwin's age and contract, they would likely be more than willing to move on and free up some cap space. That benefit to the Bucs would likely cause them to either take a small draft return, eat some of his current cap hit, or both.
Godwin would give the Chiefs a reliable veteran receiver who's known to be a good route runner. He's the type of wideout that Andy Reid would likely trust right away. The biggest questions are whether KC can get his cap number down enough to work for them and whether they trust his health after he missed some time in both of the past two seasons. He may not be able to stretch the field like Tyquan Thornton could, but if KC just needs a reliable route runner that Mahomes can target to move the chains, Godwin could be worth a look.
Kayshon Boutte - Houston Texans
If the Chiefs want to add a wide receiver who both won't cost much in draft-pick return and would be easy to fit under the salary cap, Kayshon Boutte could be an easy add. Boutte was a nice weapon for the New England Patriots the past two seasons, but he hasn't really found a consistent role with the Texans this season. With the Texans off to an 0-4 start and Boutte on a cheap one-year deal, it would probably be very easy to pry him away from Houston.
Boutte isn't necessarily a burner like Thornton, but he has shown a knack for big plays in the NFL. His career average of 14.7 yards per reception is significantly better than either Rashee Rice's or Xavier Worthy's. That may not be as good as Thornton's 19.9 yards per reception this season, but it could be a nice addition for the Chiefs.
So there you have it, Chiefs fans, five options that Kansas City could add in the coming days to try and solidify its wide receiver room after its injuries on Sunday against the Raiders. The Chiefs are in prime position to be a powerhouse in the AFC again this season, but if their offense is going to continue to cover up some of their other issues, they are going to have to get Patrick Mahomes another wideout ASAP.
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