NFL

Kansas City Chiefs’ In-House Wide Receiver & Trade Options After Rashee Rice Injury

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Colin Lynch
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Colin Lynch Sports Editor

Colin Lynch covers the NFL, MLB and WNBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the New England Patriots. His sports coverage has been featured on The Sports Daily and Basketball Insiders, as well as FanSided's Chowder & Champions. A New Hampshire native and former D1 baseball player at St. John's University, Colin was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2008 and enjoyed a four-year professional baseball career.

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Published2 hours ago on September 30, 2024

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Kansas City Chiefs Rashee Rice Injury

Kansas City Chiefs star wide receiver Rashee Rice is feared to have torn his ACL in the Chief’s Sunday win over their AFC West rival Chargers. Who can the Chiefs’ target via trade to bolster their wide receiver room? 

They came into Week 4 unbeaten, the reigning two-time Super Bowl champions, still finding their way on offense and seeking the spark that had defined their dynasty. But there was one bright spot—a rising star named Rashee Rice. His hands were reliable, his routes precise, and his connection with Patrick Mahomes grew stronger with every game. He was, in many ways, the promise of what could be.

And then, in the cruelest turn of fate, that promise came undone—an apparent ACL injury. The breakout star who had ignited hope in Kansas City’s offense was sidelined. Just like that, the team that was 4-0, who knew adversity but had always overcome it, found itself staring at an uncertain future.

Is A Major Move Necessary?

For a moment, you can feel the weight. Rice had led the team with 29 targets—17 more than any other receiver. He was the heartbeat of a unit still searching for its rhythm. And now, the Chiefs are left to wonder where to turn.

But this is the Kansas City Chiefs. They have Patrick Mahomes. They have Andy Reid. And if we’ve learned anything, they always seem to find a way. Yet, as they continue their quest for a third consecutive title, one question lingers: how do you replace the production and the promise? The answer to that will define the next chapter of their season.

In Kansas City, the road ahead has never felt steeper or more uncertain. But if they are to continue their march toward greatness, it will have to be without one of the brightest stars they’ve come to lean on and with the weight of knowing that, in football, even the smallest moments can change everything.

So, do the Chiefs need to make a move?

In-House Solutions?

Hollywood Brown, the free-agent signing expected to bring speed and spark, is still recovering from shoulder surgery. His debut, if it comes, won’t be until the playoffs. Isiah Pacheco, their dynamic running back, remains on injured reserve. The losses are mounting, and as the Kansas City Chiefs move forward, they must confront a new reality.

Rookie Xavier Worthy could get more opportunities, but so far in 2024, he has been the Chief’s down-field threat, and it’s unlikely that they’re going to completely change his role to the extent that the Chiefs don’t feel the full weight of the loss of Rice.

Much of the burden could shift to the trio of Justin Watson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Skyy Moore. It’s an unexpected but necessary moment for each of them. For Watson, the opportunity is clear. He quietly amassed 460 receiving yards last season, ranking third on the team. But more importantly, he’s built a trust with Patrick Mahomes—a connection forged in the trenches of last year’s campaign. If anyone can step in and shoulder more of the load, it’s him.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, with his physical style and reliability in the short game, could become pivotal. His ability to work the middle of the field and find the soft spots in a defense will be crucial as the Chiefs look to recalibrate without their rising star. And then there’s Skyy Moore—the young receiver who can make his mark in those same short spaces where Mahomes will be looking to get the ball out quickly and efficiently.

But what if the Kansas City Chiefs want to look outside the organization as they chase down their third consecutive Super Bowl title?

Possible Trade Options

Amari Cooper – Cleveland Browns

Let’s start with a home run. Amari Cooper. His name alone evokes a quiet reverence in NFL circles—a player whose precision in route-running and ability to turn a sliver of space into a play-changing moment remains unmatched. For the Kansas City Chiefs, acquiring Cooper could alter the very landscape of the league. This is a bit unlikely, but it would be a dream scenario for Kansas City.

On paper, it’s a move that checks every box. Cooper’s salary, a modest $1.2 million, would hardly strain the Chiefs’ cap space, yet the value he brings is immeasurable. Despite the questions surrounding his situation in Cleveland, no one doubts his talent. He remains one of the league’s most dangerous wideouts, his productivity hindered by a Browns offense that has struggled to find its footing with Deshaun Watson.

For Kansas City, the allure is undeniable. A bona fide No. 1 receiver, plugged into an offense led by Patrick Mahomes, could elevate an already potent attack to a level that would challenge even the most prepared defenses. Cooper’s route-running prowess would immediately fit into the Chiefs’ scheme, a system built on timing, precision, and trust. He’d have no trouble finding his rhythm.

The timing is ideal, too. Cooper’s deal is expiring, giving the Chiefs flexibility. They could opt for a midseason extension, securing Mahomes a true No. 1 target for the foreseeable future, or they could see Cooper as a one-year rental, giving them the freedom to let him walk in free agency and potentially gain a compensatory pick in return.

But for Cleveland, it’s a more complex conversation. Cooper is their offensive anchor, the bright spot in a season that increasingly looks lost. Yet, if they genuinely consider the long-term future, the idea of trading him now — at a premium — might be too good to pass up.

DeAndre Hopkins – Tennessee Titans

DeAndre Hopkins — a name synonymous with dominance at the wide receiver position. A five-time Pro Bowler whose blend of physicality, elite hands, and presence at the catch point makes him a coveted asset, even at 32 years old.

Once linked to the Chiefs before signing with the Tennessee Titans, Hopkins finds himself in a position that could lead him straight back into the trade conversation. With Tennessee sitting outside the playoff hunt and looking toward the future, Tennesee may be willing to part with their big off-season acquisition.

The fit is seamless. For Patrick Mahomes, who thrives on extending plays and delivering impossible throws, Hopkins would be a dream target. His strength at the catch point, ability to make contested catches, and physical style would instantly elevate the Chiefs’ receiving corps.

The real question becomes: What’s the cost? Draft compensation looms large in this conversation. A third-round pick might seem steep, but for a player of Hopkins’ caliber — on what could essentially be a veteran minimum salary — it’s a price Kansas City could be willing to pay. The Titans, with their cap flexibility and eyes on the future, could absorb the remaining salary, setting the stage for a win-win scenario.

Darius Slayton – New York Giants

Darius Slayton, the once-promising wideout for the New York Giants, has always been more solid than spectacular. He’s never genuinely ascended to that elite echelon, but he’s been dependable. In four of his six seasons, Slayton has racked up 700 or more yards — a stat that speaks to his consistency, if not his dominance. At 81% of the team’s offensive snaps this season, Slayton remains an integral part of the Giants’ passing game, even as the focus shifts to the younger core around him.

For the Kansas City Chiefs, Slayton represents an interesting proposition. He’s not the flashy acquisition that would turn heads like a DeAndre Hopkins or an Amari Cooper, but he could provide Mahomes with something he desperately needs: reliability. Slayton’s ability to stretch the field, paired with his experience in various offensive schemes, could make him a plug-and-play option for the Chiefs. He’s been a quiet contributor for the Giants, and under the right circumstances, he might just thrive in an offense as dynamic as Kansas City’s.

But here’s the crux of the matter: Would New York let him go? The Giants, with their new wave of young receivers — Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt — might be in a place to move on and see what the future holds. Malik Nabers, the rookie sensation, has already become the offense’s focal point, and Robinson continues to find work in the slot. Slayton, while valuable, might not be a centerpiece of New York’s long-term plans.

It’s not the headline-making trade that turns a season on its head, but it could be the subtle move that rounds out the Chiefs’ offense and gives them the boost they need. Slayton may not have always been a star in New York, but with Mahomes at the helm in Kansas City, he could be precisely what the reigning champs are looking for.