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Five options after Rashee Rice's injury

Five options after Rashee Rice's injury
Posted on | Posted on angela

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Throughout the offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs expressed their vision for a new explosive offense. After the first month of the season, the unit now appears to be looking for a way to simply stay afloat.

With a score of 4-0, the two-time defending champions are hardly panicking. But with preferred wide receiver Rashee Rice feared he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Chargers, the already inconsistent offense is reportedly facing a future without the receiver who scored 29 goals in the first three weeks 17 more than any other player on the team. And with free-agent signing Marquise “Hollywood” Brown not expected to make his debut until the playoffs at the earliest due to shoulder surgery – and running back Isiah Pacheco moving to the reserve team – the mounting losses could put the offense in an awkward position.

The easiest solution would be to look for internal solutions to step up, and the Chiefs will undoubtedly do just that. But while perennial Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce set season-highs with seven catches and 89 yards on Sunday while Rice was out for most of the game, the extra attention devoted to him in coverage likely won't amount to anything. Rice enjoyed this setup, working on the defense underneath and racking up yards after the catch. Now who keeps the attack going?

First-round rookie receiver Xavier Worthy seems like the natural candidate for an increased workload, but his role has been defined somewhat narrowly to highlight his strengths — and perhaps guard against his weaknesses. The 5-11, 165-pound forward should continue to force defenses to account for his speed, create opportunities for others when they do and create big shots for himself when they don't. But beyond the occasional throw and a few planned touches, Worthy could struggle to pitch in a more comprehensive role until he fills out his frame and becomes more comfortable as a short-to-intermediate target.

So a lot of that work could fall to Justin Watson, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Skyy Moore. Watson ranked third on the team with 460 receiving yards last season, and his established relationship with Patrick Mahomes could allow him to have early success if he sees an immediate uptick in targets. Smith-Schuster is comfortable as a physical presence underneath, while Moore can also live in the short zone.

But what if Andy Reid and Brett Veach determine that Kansas City needs outside help to sustain itself? Of course, signing Davante Adams or another star receiver seems far-fetched, especially considering the Chiefs only have $4.9 million in cap space, according to overthecap.com. But as the November 5 trade deadline approaches, there could be some interesting options on the market.

Here are five wide receiver trade options that could make sense for the Chiefs following Rice's injury:

Darius Slayton, New York Giants

Slayton rushed for a season-high 56 yards on three catches in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4 and has appeared in 81% of the Giants' offensive snaps so far this season. Still, this offense runs through rookie sensation Malik Nabers, and what's left largely goes to Wan'Dale Robinson. Slayton's talent as a burner would certainly be put to better use in Kansas City. GM Joe Schoen has also taken this route once with Veach, dealing Kadarius Toney in an October 2022 deal.

Robert Woods, Houston Texans

If Kansas City is simply looking to add another reliable target rather than go for a transformative piece, Woods could be a viable option. No one is going to confuse a 32-year-old who suffered a torn ACL playing for Rice in 2021, but the veteran target could still provide value running underneath. Houston has Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell at receiver, which leaves Woods little chance. A trade for a late-round draft pick shouldn't be difficult to make.

Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots

Bourne is still working to recover from a torn ACL he suffered midway through last season. However, he is expected to return to practice this week and the 29-year-old averaged a career-best 50.8 yards per game in 2023 before going down. If he returns to form, his reliability should draw Kansas City's attention. But given that the receiving corps remains underwhelmed, New England may be hesitant to part with a player who could be an asset to Drake Maye if the No. 3 overall pick takes over the starting quarterback position. And after signing Bourne to a three-year deal in March, it appears he is still in the team's long-term plans.

Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns

Let's move on to the more interesting – but less likely – possibilities. Cooper could be the most tempting solution, as it would allow the Chiefs to sign a true No. 1 target on an expiring contract. Like Bourne, Cooper was involved in trade talks with San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk, although that meant Cleveland was looking to improve its passing game rather than sell its top target. It could be difficult for the Browns to embrace this mindset given the franchise's inability to get its passing attack under control with Deshaun Watson at the helm. But with this looking more and more like a lost year for the organization, the front office would have to think about what it could get for a player who could move elsewhere after this season. Cooper has struggled with declines in 2024, but a change of scenery — and working with Reid and Mahomes — could quickly rejuvenate him. But financial considerations could pose a significant obstacle.

DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans

Hopkins and the Chiefs were closely linked for a while before the five-time Pro Bowler signed a two-year, $26 million deal with the Titans last offseason. However, now seems to be the right time for the two. With Calvin Ridley being the star attraction in Tennessee, Ridley saw a significant increase in usage. And the 32-year-old's physical style and strength at the catch point would undoubtedly help Mahomes tremendously. Since taking over in January 2023, Titans GM Ran Carthon has focused on bringing top-notch talent on board rather than parting ways with them. But given an 0-3 start, it would be wise to weigh your options for a player who doesn't seem to fit into the franchise's long-term plans. Still, the sticking point here may once again be the price – in what Kansas City would have to give up, but also in the cap that could put this move out of reach.

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