Not so long ago, the Kansas City Chiefs were running short on pass-catching options. Fast forward to today, and with Xavier Worthy's stellar return, they may now have a surplus in their wide receiver room.
That's why, now that Worthy is back to full strength and Rashee Rice is just three weeks away from returning from his six-game suspension, the Chiefs could look to move on from one of their pass-catchers. And the Pittsburgh Steelers losing WR2 Calvin Austin to an injury that will cost him several games, per insider Gerry Dulac, creates the perfect opportunity for a trade.
Chiefs Have Two Trade Options After Steelers' WR Injury
Without him, the Steelers only have DK Metcalf as a proven pass-catcher, with little to no depth behind him. That opens a window of opportunity for the Chiefs to recoup some assets instead of holding onto players who might not see the field as often once the team is back to full strength.
As things stand now, the Chiefs are listing Worthy, Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, and JuJu Smith-Schuster as the starters. The only other Chiefs wideout with more than 1 reception on the season is Tyquan Thornton. They aren't all viable trade chips (Worthy's going nowhere, and JuJu's trade value is too low to be worth moving), but Brown and Thornton stand out as ideal options.
Brown is familiar with the AFC North from his past with the Baltimore Ravens, and he failed to step up for the Chiefs in Worthy's absence. He had plenty of opportunities, seeing 27 targets across the first three games, but he didn't capitalize on that. His averages of 9.0 yards per reception and just 6.3 per target were hugely underwhelming. Still, he'd be an upgrade for the Steelers' thin receiving corps.
Thornton has shown flashes of the potential that made him a second-round pick for the New England Patriots back in 2022, but where he's excelling (as a deep threat, averaging 18.2 yards per reception) becomes a little redundant with Worthy back in the fold. He was on the field for at least 70% of the Chiefs' offensive snaps in his first three games this season, but that rate fell to 34.2% with Worthy back in Week 4.
Of course, the Chiefs don't need to make any rash decisions, and they would be wise to wait and see how the receiver room shapes up before figuring out whether they actually have a surplus. But if the weeks go by and the Steelers' already thin offense reeks of desperation, perhaps the opportunity would be too good to pass.