Chiefs' link in Panthers front office could help future trade talks

The NFL's trade deadline is more than a month away, but that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from churning very early this season in the face of significant needs on high-profile teams—such as wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs.

During their win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4, the Chiefs suffered a terrible loss when Rashee Rice went down with a severe leg injury. Having already lost Marquise Brown for the season at the same position, the NFL media machine went into immediate overdrive attempting to play general manager for the Chiefs and fill the perceived need at wideout.

If the Chiefs are going to work a deal at the trade deadline, it might help to have old friends in new places.

The headlines have been interesting, to say the least, in the last few days as the league's trade block has grown a bit. The Chiefs have been linked to all manner of options at the position—from low-level, more realistic options to franchise-altering imports that aren't close to happening. What is clear is that there are a lot of wide receiver options available to Kansas City, should they desire to go shopping.

Some teams will not want to deal with the Chiefs at all given their position of sustained success, but that's why it might help the team to have some friendly faces in the front offices of some teams around the NFL. They already know Ryan Poles, the Chicago Bears general manager, very well as a former Chiefs exec, and more recently, there's a newer friend they could potentially call on at a time like this.

The Carolina Panthers recently lured away Chiefs cap expert and former vice-president of football operations Brandt Tilis to take on a promotion. Now an EVP with the Panthers, Tilis gives the Chiefs someone they know and trust in a new environment—one on a completely different trajectory and timeline than the Chiefs.

Whle Tilis is not the Panthers' general manager, he's certainly in a position to give the Chiefs an honest assessment of some potential assets and/or a level-headed colleague on the inside of another front office. This could come in handy when looking at potential acquisitions at wide receiver (Diontae Johnson or Jonathan Mingo or Adam Thielen) or other position.

At the very least, it can't hurt for the Chiefs to know Tilis after 14 seasons with the organization across three different general managers. There's no doubt Tilis's loyalty will be to his current employer, but knowing the two teams are in different places should allow for answers—if the Chiefs are seeking anything from Carolina in the first place.