The Kansas City Chiefs started the season slowly, and their struggles on the offensive side of the ball were a big reason for that. A surprising 0-2 start to the 2025 campaign led to trade rumors concerning all areas of the roster. In particular, some fans were clamoring for a potential reunion with former WR Tyreek Hill.
While those cries were certainly heard, the latest report from The Athletic's Dianna Russini reveals that the Chiefs' front office had a much different view of their wide receiver room. Per Russini's sources, Kansas City never seriously considered trading for Hill, in large part due to their faith in Rashee Rice.
"I’m told Hill was never considered a real option in Kansas City, even as the Chiefs stumbled out of the gate. He’s better than any trade we could make,” one team source told Russini. “People don’t realize how good he is.”
Chiefs Never Considered Tyreek Hill Trade Despite Slow Start
In Week 4, any talk of a reunion between Hill and the Chiefs ended as the veteran dislocated his knee against the New York Jets and suffered multiple torn ligaments. While we know he will miss the remainder of this season, Hill's status for next year is also in doubt, which is awful to hear about the former Kansas City star. Nonetheless, the Chiefs were never considering a reunion, and Rice is the reason why.
Rice was suspended for the first six weeks of the season, but when he returns, it's expected he'll jump into the WR1 role. Kansas City's passing attack just got Xavier Worthy back in the fold last week and immediately paid dividends (five catches for 83 yards). The hope is for something similar out of Rice.
Once Rice steps back on the field, it should just open things up for the Chiefs' offense. In 20 career games in Kansas City, he has 103 catches for 1,226 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Before going down with a season-ending knee injury in 2024, Rice had 75-plus receiving yards in every game.
He was easily Patrick Mahomes' No. 1 option, and the Chiefs expect him to pick up in 2025 exactly where he left off last season. Instead of trading for a 31-year-old WR who would be looking for a new deal, the Chiefs are rolling with the 25-year-old in-house option.
Kansas City may be stuck weathering the storm without Rice in the fold, but despite all the chatter that was online, the belief inside the building never wavered. The chapter on Hill's chapter with the Chiefs seems to have officially closed, and that's fine. Rice and Worthy are currently a young, explosive, and inexpensive duo that this team can build around for years to come.
Kansas City is patiently waiting for the SMU product to return to the field, and fans only have to wait two more games until that's possible. Rice is eligible to return in Week 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders, and everyone in the building is waiting for that.