The Kansas City Chiefs are on the bye for Week 10, but fans are hoping that they will make a trade by the 4 p.m. ET deadline to bolster the defensive line or add a playmaker in the backfield.
Thus far, the Chiefs have watched their division rival, the Las Vegas Raiders, officially wave the white flag by trading away veteran WR Jakobi Meyers, which will have an immediate impact on the AFC West. And now, Kansas City might have a tough time capturing a top-two seed in the AFC after the Indianapolis Colts made a blockbuster move on defense.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Indianapolis has parted ways with two first-round picks and WR AD Mitchell to the New York Jets in exchange for star cornerback Sauce Gardner. This was a move that no one saw coming, as Gardner wasn’t considered a potential cornerback on the market in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline.
However, the Colts feel they have a real chance to make a push for the top spot in the AFC and potentially dethrone the reigning AFC champs in Kansas City.
Colts Land All-Pro CB Sauce Gardner 2 Weeks Before Matchup vs. Chiefs
That said, the Chiefs will have a chance to make a statement against the Cinderella Colts, who have a 7-2 record entering Week 10. Kansas City will travel to Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 12 to face the Colts just one week after they take their show on the road for an AFC West showdown against the Denver Broncos.
It will not be an easy stretch coming out of the bye for the Chiefs, but they’ve been the class of the AFC for many years, so no one should count them out. Looking ahead to that matchup, one of the potential weaknesses Kansas City could’ve exploited was the Colts’ pass defense.
This season, the Colts’ defense has allowed the seventh-most passing yards per game (244.8), despite being ranked third in interceptions with 10. However, with Charvarius Ward on the IR with a concussion, the Colts needed an instant upgrade on the boundary, and they’re getting that with Gardner.
It will be interesting to see who Gardner matches up against when he plays Kansas City. It could be Rashee Rice or Xavier Worthy, who has seen his production dip lately, but can still change a game in the blink of an eye, thanks to his game-breaking speed.
Gardner doesn’t have an interception this season, but has a 98.1 passer rating allowed when targeted and has given up two receiving touchdowns. With the Colts making their intentions clear, it will be interesting to see if the Chiefs respond as the trade deadline shapes the second half of the regular season.