Chiefs Make Sudden Trade to Replace Departed Pass-Catcher

The Chiefs pulled off another surprising trade right before the roster cutdown deadline, acquiring Dallas Cowboys TE Peyton Hendershoot in a sudden move following the release of veteran TE Irv Smith Jr.

Kansas City is reportedly sending a 2026 conditional seventh-round pick for Hendershoot, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Reports suggest the Cowboys intended to waive Hendershoot, so the Chiefs jumped ahead of the waiver wire by snagging him in a trade instead.

This move does come as a bit of a surprise though, as it now appears that Kansas City will keep four tight ends instead of three.

Chiefs News: KC Trades for Cowboys TE Peyton Hendershoot

Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, and Jared Wiley are all making the team, so Hendershoot will now slide in behind them. He only has 15 carrer receptions for 141 yards and a pair of TDs but established himself as a legitimate receiving threat in college at Indiana.

As a four-year contributor, Hendershoot caught 136 passes for 1,479 yards and 14 TDs. He's six-foot-four with strong hands and decent athleticism. Perhaps most importantly, Hendershoot is a highly-skilled blocker.

The Chiefs obviously believe there's untapped potential, and his acquisition means that someone currently on the roster will lose a spot.

Between Monday night's trade for LB Cam Thomas and the reunion with JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City suddenly has few roster spots to go around. Hendershoot will claim another, and with the rise of players like undrafted RB Carson Steele, the final roster is becoming clear.

It's unlikely that Hendershoot makes an impact in 2024. He'll learn under Kelce and Gray, potentially serving as Wiley's version of Gray eventually. Brett Veach is always looking for hidden gems - we'll see if he's found another.

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