With two deals already in the books in the days and weeks leading up to the NFL's trade deadline, the Kansas City Chiefs have already proven to be remarkably busy this time of year. It's a bit uncharacteristic for the Chiefs to make this many changes to the roster in mid-season, but this year is unlike any other as the team pursues NFL history. Thus, general manager Brett Veach has made multiple trades in the hopes of bolstering the roster for a long postseason run.
However, even after acquiring some help at wide receiver and for the pass rush, reports are that the Chiefs are still looking for help at multiple other positions.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic says the Chiefs still aren't done looking at potential trades.
The latest rumors to come across the wire were found on Saturday morning when NFL reporter Dianna Russini of The Athletic stated that Veach was looking at two more positions of need before the league's deadline passes on Tuesday, November 5.
Specifically, Russini pointed to wide receiver and cornerback as two places the Chiefs could look for further help, although nothing was stated in any certain terms. For the former, Russini noted, "If a wide receiver falls into their laps..." which means the Chiefs aren't just going to bite on something out of desperation, And they shouldn't since they've already made a move for DeAndre Hopkins and will get JuJu Smith-Schuster back from a hamstring injury soon.
The same can be said at corner, where Russini explained that Steve Spagnuolo, the team's legendary defensive coordinator, wants someone young and fast if they're going to fit in. Given the mercurial play of corners year to year, if a player is fast and young and good, he's not gong to be on a trade block for any team. That means anyone available to the Chiefs is going to come with a risk attached.
The need at corner comes in the wake of a season-ending injury to Jaylen Watson. The-third year cornerback claimed the starting boundary role opposite Trent McDuffie (in the base defense at least), edging Joshua Williams and Nazeeh Johnson in the preseason. Now those two get another chance to claim more playing time at midseason while others hope to press for some occasional reps from the practice squad perhaps (Nic Jones, et al).
So far this season, the Chiefs have already worked out deals with the Tennessee Titans for wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and another trade with the New England Patriots for edge rusher Joshua Uche. The hopes there were to support the line while Mike Danna and Charles Omenihu are out.
Will the Chiefs make another move before it's too late? It likely depends on this weekend's news and how games turn out for teams who might be willing to sell for the first time in 2024. This should be an exciting week to follow the Chiefs, for reasons both on and off of the field.