NFL Insider reveals wide receiver KC Chiefs would trade for ‘In a perfect world’

The Kansas City Chiefs made a big effort to bolster their wide receiver room ahead of the 2024 NFL season, but with Rashee Rice and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown on the injured reserve list and JuJu Smith-Schuster already ruled out for at least Week 8 , KC’s injury-ravaged wide receiver depth chart looks thinner than ever.

With some time to act before the NFL’s Nov. 5 trade deadline, could Kansas City make a move for a wide receiver for the back half of the ’24 season?

During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Adam Schefter of ESPN laid out his understanding of how the Chiefs approach the wide receiver market ahead of the NFL trade deadline.

“I think they’re going to check and ask about wide receivers,” Schefter said. “But here’s the thing, we could bring up some of these other wide receivers, but they like to get guys who know this system, in general, who Mahomes is comfortable working with, and we see Josh Allen knowing Amari Cooper. Right now , we know Aaron (Rodgers) knows Davante Adams, so everybody’s different, in a perfect world, it’s somebody like a Demarcus Robinson who knows the system and knows the quarterback that could help there could still use some d ‘help at the wide receiver position, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they made a move, I don’t know if it will be a big, splashy move, but I think it’s more likely to be a less heralded, cheaper, less capitalized player draft that some of the big names would have.”

That said, Schefter mentioned a familiar veteran who has never played Reid or Mahomes.

“DeAndre Hopkins, like if Tennessee keeps losing, it would make a lot of sense to move on from him if they can get something back for him,” Schefter said.

Personally, I’d say Schefter overstated one part of his assessment and understated another.

I’m not sure I’m willing to admit that 30-year-old Robinson, who isn’t a boss since 2021, is the solution in “a perfect world.” He could be a pragmatic, productive and responsible addition, but not exactly a one-man solution to the Chiefs’ WR woes.

Even with the utmost generosity and noting that Schefter said “someone com a Demarcus Robinson,” there simply isn’t anyone else com Robinson in the market. Last season, that familiar face was Mecole Hardman. This summer, it was Smith-Schuster. In September, it was tight end Jody Fortson. If the Chiefs are determined to add a receiver who has caught passes from Mahomes, is likely available for trade offers and is projected to be an improvement from the current group, Robinson is the player who fits that profile.

On the other hand, Schefter really emphasizes the fact that the Chiefs “could use some help” at wide receiver. Justin Watson has taken 239 offensive snaps this year and has nine targets. Skyy Moore has now taken 49 snaps and has three targets for zero catches. They were the Chiefs’ No. 1 and No. 3 wide receivers by snaps taken Sunday. Bosses don’t just need “a little help.” They need a wide receiver who can gain targets and create separation. Perhaps Robinson can be that solution, but if Schefter’s tone is a reflection of the conversations taking place in the Chiefs’ front office, there may not be much internal urgency to make a meaningful move.

Read more: Andy Reid offers bleak injury updates on JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jaylen Watson