Chiefs Rival Steals Perfect WR Target in Stunning Week 9 Trade

The Kansas City Chiefs are currently the Super Bowl LIX favorites across most sportsbooks, but that doesn't mean there aren't tough obstacles standing in the way of a three-peat. The wide receiver room has been a weak point for the defending champions as injuries keep piling up, leaving time to tell if general manager Brett Veach has any deals in store for the Nov. 5 trade deadline.

Several notable wideouts are rumored to be available in the next few days, including Carolina Panthers WR Diontae Johnson. The 28-year-old playmaker was linked to the Chiefs last week, resulting in fans waiting for Veach to pull the trigger.

Unfortunately, Kansas City's chances of landing Johnson crash and burned on Tuesday.

Chiefs News: Panthers Trade WR Diontae Johnson to Ravens

NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo are reporting that the Panthers are trading Johnson to one of the Chiefs' biggest AFC rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. ESPN's Adam Schefter added that a sixth-round pick is also being sent to Baltimore while a fifth-round selection is heading back Carolina's way.

Signed for the rest of the season at a $3.8 million cap hit, Johnson would've been the perfect receiver to add to Patrick Mahomes' arsenal. Instead, the ex-Toledo product is joining a Ravens' team that desperately needed another reliable pass-catcher.

Some fans might say the Chiefs didn't need another WR after acquiring DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans last week. After all, it was only last year when the five-time Pro Bowl wideout tallied his seventh 1,000-yard performance. Having said that, Hopkins isn't getting any younger and didn't exactly light up the world in his debut in Week 8.

Throw in the fact that the Chiefs have dealt with WR-related injuries since the 2024 campaign began, and it's easy to see why adding a pass-catcher of Johnson's caliber wouldn't have been a bad idea.

What's even worse is the Ravens barely gave up anything to land Johnson, only having to send a fifth-round pick to the Panthers. The Chiefs certainly could've matched that asking price and the difference in picks likely only would've been a few draft spots assuming that they go on another deep playoff run.

It remains to be seen if the Chiefs have any backup plans now that Johnson is off the board. Johnson's Panthers teammate Adam Thielen has also been linked to Kansas City as has former Super Bowl-winning WR Demarcus Robinson, who spent his first six NFL seasons under head coach Andy Reid's watch.

With a week to go until the trade deadline, the Chiefs can't afford to sit on their hands any longer. If there's a receiver they want to add to Mahomes' disposal, they must act quickly before another team swoops in just like the Ravens.

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