To ensure that Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes have as much time as possible to pursue a title, the Kansas City Chiefs are taking a significant step forward in their roster overhaul.
In the short term, trading Tyreek Hill wasn’t a wise move for the Kansas City Chiefs, but the draught pick compensation the Chiefs received from the Miami Dolphins was sufficient to persuade the franchise to part ways with one of the best wide receivers in franchise history, who was also one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. It made even more sense if Kansas City wasn’t planning on awarding Hill the largest deal ever given to a wide receiver in the history of the NFL.
In exchange for Hill, the Chiefs got a king’s ransom in the form of a 2022 first-round selection (the 29th overall pick), a 2022 second-round pick (the 50th overall pick), a 2022 fourth-round pick, a 2023 fourth-round pick, and a 2023 sixth-round pick. In Hill, the Chiefs have parted ways with the finest deep-ball receiver of this generation. Since joining the league in 2016, Hill has scored touchdowns from 20 yards to 30 yards, 40 yards to 50 yards, and 60 yards to 60 yards. Hill is also one of just four players in league history to have 450 catches (479), 6,500 receiving yards (6,630), and 55 receiving touchdowns (56) after six seasons, all of which came in his first five seasons.
Although it is impossible to replace a player like Hill, Kansas City can still make changes to its squad because to the $20.435 million in salary cap space that has been preserved. It is still possible for the Chiefs to win a title, but it is up to general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid to maintain Kansas City among the best of the American Football Conference.
Draft picks
Here’s a look at the picks the Chiefs have in the first four rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. Kansas City has eight picks overall in those four rounds.
- First round — No. 29 overall (from Dolphins)
- First round — No. 30 overall
- Second round — No. 50 overall (from Dolphins)
- Second round — No. 62 overall
- Third round — No. 94 overall
- Third round — No. 103 overall
- Fourth round — No. 125 overall (from Dolphins)
- Fourth round — No. 135 overall
For the Chiefs, it is a significant amount of draught capital with which they can either trade down and choose a wide receiver or address their needs with four of the top 62 selections. With these choices, Kansas City has a chance to add a wide receiver or two to a position that has lost Hill, Byron Pringle, and DeMarcus Robinson. The Chiefs’ first priority for the rest of the offseason will be finding a wide receiver to complement their quarterback.
Chiefs depth chart at wide receiver
Prior to moving Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs signed JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency, as he was projected to be the team’s No. 2 wideout. Kansas City’s top wide receiving option is Smith-Schuster, with Mecole Hardman serving as the team’s No. 2 wide receiver for the foreseeable future. Hardman will be employed in a similar manner to how the Chiefs used Hill, as he will be expected to step up as he enters the last year of his rookie contract.
Josh Gordon has been re-signed to a one-year deal, while Cornell Powell will serve as depth for the team. There is still work to be done in Kansas City, as the chance to have more pass-catching alternatives at the position has opened up as a result of Hill’s contract no longer being a hindrance to the team’s ability to field a competitive squad.
