While, on paper, the Kansas City Chiefs' wide receiver situation is much improved than it was this time a year ago, there are going to be some obstacles the team will have to face this year. One of those is the pending suspension of Rashee Rice, which could end up lasting over half the season. Another is the injury history of Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
This could prompt the Chiefs to look into adding another wide receiver on the trade market but one that they wouldn't have to surrender an arm and a leg for. Jalen Tolbert of the Dallas Cowboys could fit the bill for what the Chiefs are looking to add. The former third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft is entering the final year of his contract and therefore, might be expendable due to the depth the 'Boys have on the roster.
Jalen Tolbert could make perfect sense as trade candidate for Chiefs
The Chiefs might not even have to give up much to land Tolbert given that Dallas might be looking to offload him. Perhaps a Day 3 draft pick (a sixth or seventh-round pick) would be enough to acquire Tolbert and if that's the case, that could go down as a win for the Chiefs.
Tolbert, who the Cowboys took in the third round of the 2022 draft out of South Alabama, is coming off his best year in the league with 49 receptions and 610 yards along with seven trips into the end zone. While those numbers aren't terrible, they are a tad disappointing for a third-round pick, which is another reason it'd make sense for Dallas to send him away.
The pressure wouldn't be on Tolbert as much in Kansas City either, especially if they only parted with a late-round pick to add him. He could join a winning team and catch passes from Patrick Mahomes, and hopefully the two could form solid chemistry on the field.
Tolbert wouldn't be a long-term piece in the Chiefs' plans given he's a free agent after this season but he might be the kind of wide receiver depth K.C. needs to help them get through the 2025 campaign.