The offensive reinvention has already begun for the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason. The decision to use the franchise tag on Trey Smith and trade Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears guarantees a sea change in front of Patrick Mahomes, and five free agent wide receivers means more changes are coming at the skill positions.
This is what makes the latest DK Metcalf rumors so interesting for the Chiefs.
On Wednesday, Metcalf reportedly told the Seahawks that he was demanding a trade and the team is willing to oblige. As NFL reporter Ian Rapoport notes, "There is likely to be significant interest in the Seattle star, and both sides will dig into it. A big-time WR who may be on the move."
The Chiefs have a dynamic duo to anchor the wide receiver room in Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, but the Chiefs undoubtedly have room for another playmaker. This is especially true after watching the offense stagnate over the last two seasons due to injury, poor decisions at wide receiver, and aging stars.
There are many variables in play, but there are good reasons to connect the Chiefs with Metcalf.
Here's where Metcalf could enter the picture for the Chiefs—at least in the right scenario. The Chiefs are going to bring in someone at wide receiver to broaden the offense's potential, and that might be as simple as re-signing Hollywood Brown. But Rice and Worthy are on rookie deals and given the trade of Thuney and likely restructure for Mahomes, there should be cap space to work with a new pass catcher.
Metcalf would give the Chiefs another player who could stretch the field vertically with a lot more dependability and proven production than someone like Brown, who was injured for most of last season after already coming in with injury concerns. Metcalf has averaged 1,054 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns in his first six NFL seasons, and he just turned 27 years old, so there's every reason to believe he still has several prime years ahead.
That said, Seattle is going to want some sort of remuneration for the rights to Metcalf, and the cap hit due the wideout (nearly $32 million) this season is going to force some team's hand to give him an extension. Essentially, any team is going to have to surrender a draft asset or two for the right to pay Metcalf handsomely.
The Chiefs have made these sorts of deals before. Trades for Frank Clark and Orlando Brown Jr. were similar spins for Veach in previous seasons, and it's possible the offense's performance in 2024 is enough to kickstart something with a blockbuster trade. The price would have to be right and there are several variables in play, but rumors will connect the Chiefs and Metcalf for good reason until the situation is settled.
manual