The Kansas City Chiefs are on a mission this offseason to add a substantial upgrade to the wide receiver corps in Patrick Mahomes‘ arsenal.
Unfortunately for general manager Brett Veach and the Chiefs were iced out of one of the biggest wide receiver trades to go down so far in the NFL offseason.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers dealt wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Panthers, Carolina was able to drop an elite playmaker into Bryce Young’s supporting cast in hopes of the embattled former No. 1 overall draft pick finding his footing in his second season.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Diontae Johnson was available to 31 teams. The reigning champions being the exception.
“It was made clear to the rest of the league, basically, that Diontae Johnson was going to be available,” Garafolo said. “He had permission, his agent did, Brad Cicala, recently to go seek a trade. They talked to a few teams. The Kansas City Chiefs, they had conversations with them at some point, but it didn’t seem like they were going to trade him within the AFC to a contender if possible.
“So, sending him to the NFC to the Carolina Panthers, who have been looking to add receivers via a trade since back to last year with the previous regime. Now they get one in Diontae Johnson, who just knows how to get open. He should be able to do that for Bryce Young, who didn’t have that in his first year with a lot of his targets.”
Johnson would have unquestionably risen to the top of the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver depth chart, and challenged tight end Travis Kelce as a favorite target of Mahomes, especially after averaging 14.1 yards per reception with five touchdowns in 2023.
What’s Next in Kansas City Chiefs’ WR Search?
Patrick Mahomes’ decision to restructure his contract creates major opportunity for the Kansas City Chiefs to be major players in the wide receiver market.
Kansas City’s latest move frees up $21.6 million against the cap in 2024, which the Kansas City Chiefs can then turn around and spend on a marquee wide receiver.
However, with Johnson off the board, Darnell Mooney signing with the Atlanta Falcons, and Mike Evans and Michael Pittman going off the board by going back to their current teams, the cupboard is getting bare.
The Chiefs might need to wait for the NFL Draft, or overwhelm a team such as the Cincinnati Bengals in the trade market for Tee Higgins.
However, Mahomes certainly created the opportunity for Kansas City to go out and get him some help at a key position of need.
