The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the two remaining undefeated teams in the NFL after four weeks of the 2024 regular season. They have been able to accomplish this despite one of the top wide receivers, Hollywood Brown, being lost for the season after a shoulder injury he suffered in the preseason. On Sunday, second-year wide receiver Rashee Rice also suffered a likely season-ending injury in the Chiefs’ win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Going forward, Kansas City will continue their quest for a third consecutive Super Bowl win without a clear wide receiver one on their roster. When Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro Davante Adams informed his team that he wanted to be traded, some fans posted their hope that the Chiefs would be able to acquire the six-time Pro Bowler and solve their wide receiver issues.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, though, gave several reasons why an Adams trade to Kansas City should not be expected.
1. The Kansas City Chiefs May Not Want an Injured Davante Adams
Prior to the Raiders’ last game, a win over the Cleveland Browns, Adams popped up on the team’s injury report with a hamstring ailment. He reportedly suffered the injury during practice and was held out of the game.
With Brown and Rice out for the season, would the Chiefs really want to trade for another wide receiver that is dealing with a hamstring issue, something that can last for a long time in players at his position?
Barnwell does not think so:
“The Chiefs are already dealing with serious injuries at receiver, with Hollywood Brown out for the regular season and Rashee Rice sidelined indefinitely with an as-yet-determined knee injury. Adams is dealing with a hamstring injury that popped up in practice last week, and while Kansas City will undoubtedly be able to examine him before making a trade, hamstring injuries for wideouts can linger.”
There is no doubt that, when healthy, Adams is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. However, trading premium draft capital for a wide receiver that may miss even more time with an injury, even if that player is Davante Adams, is not a wise move.
2. The Kansas City Chiefs Have Won Super Bowls Without a WR1
After the Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins, they did not go out and sign another top-tier wide receiver to replace him. Instead, they have relied on future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce and multiple role players to support Patrick Mahomes and the passing game.
Obviously, it has worked out well for them as they have won each of the last two Super Bowls.
Barnwell writes, “I believe they see the idea of an offense that isn’t built around one receiver as a feature as opposed to a problem waiting to be solved.”
He also admits, though, that a quest for a third straight title could motivate the Chiefs to deviate from their usual ways of doing business and building a roster.
It is worth noting, however, that their usual way of doing business is what has made them so successful in the first place.
3. Will the Las Vegas Raiders Want to Trade Davante Adams to a Division Rival?
Aside from injuries and the potential fit within the organization, one of the biggest flaws in a potential Chiefs acquisition of Adams is the simple fact that the Raiders likely will not want to send one of the best players in the NFL to a division rival.
Per Barnwell, “Oh, after all of that, the Raiders would need to be willing to trade Adams to their hated division rivals and play him twice in 2024 and perhaps again in 2025. That alone might be a deal-breaker.”
Even if Las Vegas were willing to deal Adams to Kansas City, the Chiefs would have to pay a much higher price than what other teams would. According to reports, the Raiders want at least a second-round draft pick plus other compensation in any trade for Adams.
It is hard to see Kansas City paying that, let alone more.
For More Great Football Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in college and professional football, click here!
