Stefon Diggs' decision to join the Washington Commanders was no surprise earlier this week. It was the most telegraphed personnel decision in the preseason slate since training camp began, with both sides communicating toward a deal for some time, pairing a worthy target with Terry McLaurin.
Even so, it's worth noting that the Kansas City Chiefs missed out.
The Chiefs are back in '26 with the same starring cast in the wide receiver room as a year ago, an odd personnel decision by the front office that has stirred up both fear and frustration for some fans. Perhaps it will be a bit heartening, then, that the Chiefs were at least interested in Diggs, even if they came up short.
Adam Schefter reported on Thursday that Diggs went with the Commanders over three other teams: the Chiefs, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Miami Dolphins. That Diggs went with Washington is, again, not a shock to anyone, but it at least shows that those working at Arrowhead understand that the cloud of concerns in the passing game is no way to enter a new year.
Adam Schefter says the Chiefs were in on Stefon Diggs before he signed with the Washington Commanders.
Diggs is off the table, but that was never the point. Even Schefter admitted "it was Washington all along", so any Chiefs interest was likely just checking to make sure. The takeaway, rather, is that general manager Brett Veach seems awake to the idea that the depth chart as it currently stands creates very real dependence on fortune to get them through.
- Rashee Rice is still working his way back from offseason knee debridement surgery, and his continued off-the-field struggles make him too great a wild card to lock in as a dependable volume target.
- Xavier Worthy played through multiple injuries a year ago and is already sitting out training camp with a shoulder injury.
- Jalen Royals is completely untested after a redshirt rookie campaign in '25.
- Tyquan Thornon was excellent in spurts last season and is hungry for more, but he's only a year removed from competing for a roster spot.
- Cyrus Allen has impressed in camp, but no team should depend on a day three rookie in his first season at any position.
Even at full strength, the Chiefs wide receiver room looks thin and untested, but the worries have already turned into a reality at training camp. Cyrus Allen is sitting out practice this week with a shin bruise after a scary collision in special teams drills. Worthy is beside him on the sideline. Rice needed more than a week of camp before being able to participate in 11-on-11s.
So where do the Chiefs go from here? If they have documented interest in receiver help, they're going to be frustrated shoppers at this point in the calendar. Keenan Allen is available but his limitations mirror what the Chiefs already have in house. Tyreek Hill is stilll entrenched in a long recovery back from a brutal leg injury suffered last season. Brandin Cooks is hoping to return to Buffalo despite getting offers from other contenders, per his agent. Chiefs fans will likely notice that every receiver mentioned here is well into his thirties.
What's unfortunate here is also the timing of things. If the Chiefs were going to make any further modifications to the depth chart, they should have been done weeks ago, so that any imported player would be ready for training camp's arrival in late July. As it stands, the Chiefs are a week from playing the Rams to kick off the preseason and seem resigned to the situation as it stands.
That doesn't mean that a veteran can't be added. A player who has already logged multiple seasons in the NFL doesn't need the preseason reps that, say, a rookie free agent requires. It's also possible Veach is looking at trade ideas down the road after surveying how young players develop and injured ones heal. At the very least, fans can take some comfort in knowing the Chiefs are keeping tabs on the market and that maybe the sentiments about wide receiver are shared both inside and outside of Arrowhead.
Add us as a preferred source on Google