Kansas City Chiefs In Market For Wide Receiver Before Tuesday’s NFL Trade Deadline
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs are in the market for a wide receiver before Tuesday’s trade deadline, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday. The two reporters also identified the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers as teams interested in acquiring a wideout.
Rapoport first reported Nov. 1 that the Chiefs were hoping to add a receiver. Kansas City (5-2) hosts the New York Jets on Sunday on CBS.
Patrick Mahomes Feels Tyquan Thornton’s Absence
Wide receiver Tyquan Thornton has been sidelined, and the Chiefs have struggled to finish deep passes. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes pinned part of that on the defenses Kansas City has faced, and he pointed to the receivers who have stepped up since.
“Obviously, you miss Tyquan’s speed and how he’s able to track the ball downfield,” Mahomes said this week. “… Some of the downfield stuff is more about the teams that we’ve faced … Obviously, we’ve got to get back to that … I think these other guys have stepped up; it’s just about going out and doing it as the season goes on.”
Wide receiver Rashee Rice returned in Week 8 from a hamstring injury and practiced fully Friday. He is not on the final injury report for the Jets game.
Chiefs Linked To Josh Downs And Brian Thomas Jr.
FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano reported this week that the Chiefs and Steelers are interested in Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs, who requested a trade Oct. 28. Another source told FOX Sports that Downs could be the more attractive option for Kansas City.
“Downs gives them a consistent short-to-immediate threat,” the source said. “Neither [Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. nor Downs] will provide a high-volume target [for the Chiefs]. That will come in the draft next year.”
The Colts have told other teams they already received an offer of a fourth-round pick for Downs after initially asking for a third-rounder, Rapoport and Schefter reported. Downs has 30 receptions for 330 yards and 1 touchdown in eight games in the final year of his rookie contract.
Kansas City has also been tied to Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr.. Rapoport reported earlier this week that Jacksonville has gotten significant interest in Thomas, including from the Chiefs, though the Jaguars have declined to move him so far. Thomas has 10 receptions for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns this season after posting 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2024. The trade deadline is 3 p.m. CT Tuesday.
