The Kansas City Chiefs are no strangers to major trades on the day of the NFL Draft. Whether it's Patrick Mahomes, Trent McDuffie, Xavier Worthy, or Chris Jones, the organization has been active over the years when an opportunity presents itself to better the roster.
Things have been relatively quiet on the transaction front with the first round kicking off Thursday night. That doesn't mean that general manager Brett Veach isn't fielding calls though, and it's possible that we see a surprise transaction pulled off before Roger Goodell takes the podiium this evening.
One new surprise deal sees the Chiefs landing a potential star wide receiver whom fans have begged for over the years, and it'd fix a major mistake that Veach once made several years ago.
Chiefs Acquire WR George Pickens in Projected Trade Just Before NFL Draft
In this projected trade, the Chiefs acquire wideout George Pickens and a seventh-round pick (No. 229) from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a fourth-round selection (No. 133) and a seventh-rounder (No. 226).
Kansas City infamously missed out on Pickens back in 2022, selecting failed receiver Skyy Moore just two picks later. Pickens, who has had significant behavioral issues that are worth noting, has routinely made dazzling plays and is an elite blocker, while Moore has just one TD in his career and is a cut candidate going into training camp.
Pickens ranked 25th out of 98 qualified receivers at Pro Football Focus in 2024, while Moore didn't even earn enough snaps to be graded. There are legitimate concerns about Pickens' antics and some fans would prefer the team stay away from him, though it's hard to ignore the value his potential upside provides for a mere fourth-round pick.
what a disgusting catch from George Pickens pic.twitter.com/UFyiHLkwDV
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) June 6, 2023
In three seasons with some of the NFL's worst quarterback play, Pickens has caught 174 of 293 targets for 2,841 yards and 12 TDs. He routinely makes circus catches and is only 24 years old, so it's fair to think he might mature in a more stable environment under Andy Reid alongside Patrick Mahomes.
This is type of risk that championship teams take. If the Steelers are willing to pick up the phone, Veach has to make the call.