The Chiefs are reportedly ready to call an end to the Kadarius Toney experiment.
The Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly made their decision when it comes to whether or not they will be employing wide receiver Kadarius Toney for another season.
Despite being a young, cost-controlled asset still playing on his rookie deal, the Chiefs have decided to move on from him at the National Football League's deadline for making final roster cuts in an effort to get down to the required 53-man roster on Tuesday afternoon.
NFL reporter Ian Rapoport broke the news that general manager Brett Veach had ultimately decided to waive Toney after all.
Source: The #Chiefs are waiving Kadarius Toney, but he’ll have a market elsewhere. The talented playmakers story isn’t done yet. pic.twitter.com/WrTOebXjLr
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 27, 2024
Toney joined the Chiefs as a mid-season trade acquisition from the New York Giants during the 2022 campaign—in the midst of the team's second Super Bowl run of the Patrick Mahomes era. The Chiefs offered up third and sixth round selections in exchange for Toney, a former first-round pick at No. 20 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.
No one would ever question Toney's raw ability, because athletically speaking, he was the most gifted player on offense since Tyreek Hill was a member of the team. Toney was gifted with elite agility and great speed and he was an incredible weapon at times on special teams and offense. Despite a frustrating stint with the team, the Chiefs will always remember his record-breaking punt return in Super Bowl 57.
That said, Toney's time in Kansas City will mostly be remembered for the squandered potential he clearly possessed. Health concerns kept him off the field for multiple stretches, and his own mental mistakes and inconsistent play made him frustrating to watch on the field—from costly penalties to mental mistakes to dropped passes. At some point it became too much and the Chiefs decided to move on despite their investment in him.
Toney finishes his stint with the Chiefs with 57 total touches on offense for 430 yards and 4 touchdowns.