Chiefs news: KC trades Ihmir Smith-Marsette to Panthers

The Kansas City Chiefs found a way to add some value at the last minute before NFL roster cuts were due with one player who had deserved a spot on what would have been an all-too-crowded roster. While it sends him away from K.C., the good news is that wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette will have some place to call home in the NFL.

The Carolina Panthers and Chiefs worked out a deal for a reported conditional swap of seventh-round picks in 2025, according to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport.

If that doesn't sound like much in return for an exciting WR prospect, it's not, but the Chiefs had little leverage here. The wide receiver room was already completely full as it was and that's after being forced to include Chiefs wideout Justyn Ross, who also played his way onto the active roster this preseason. Every team in the NFL knew Smith-Marsette was headed for the waiver wire, so the Panthers were the ones willing to offer up something.

Smith-Marsette had played his way onto an active roster somewhere and the Chiefs made sure he found a home.

For the Panthers, Smith-Marsette joins a new team with an exciting new quarterback in Bryce Young who was the first overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. The team also traded away D.J. Moore to the Bears in an overhaul of the position. Veteran Adam Thielen is the new leader in the locker room with rookie Jonathan Mingo, D.J. Chark, Terrace Marshall (who is out with a back injury), Shi Smith, and Laviska Shenault.

Ihmir-Marsette gives the Panthers someone who could add value on special teams while potentially contributing on offense after leading the Chiefs in receiving yards this preseason with 195 and 2 touchdowns.

As for the Chiefs, the swap in 2025 is next to nothing, but it's also better than nothing in this instance. But it clears room for Ross to join the active roster and clarifies the competition quite a bit more heading into a busy day of big decisions for NFL roster cuts.