Five possibilities after Rashee Rice injury

Throughout the offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs talked up their visions for a newly explosive offense. After the first month of the season, the unit now seems to be searching for a way merely to stay afloat.

Standing at 4-0, the two-time defending champs are hardly in panic mode. But with go-to wide receiver Rashee Rice feared to have torn his anterior cruciate ligament in Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers, per reports, the already uneven offense is staring down a future without the receiver whose 29 targets in the first three weeks were 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 earliest due to shoulder surgery – and starting running back Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve – the mounting losses could push the offense to an uncomfortable spot.

The easiest solution would be to look to in-house solutions to step up, and the Chiefs no doubt will do just that. But while perennial Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce notched season highs of seven catches and 89 yards Sunday with Rice out for the bulk of the game, the extra coverage attention dedicated to him likely isn’t going anywhere. Rice feasted on that setup, working defenses underneath and racking up yards after the catch. Now, who keeps the attack rolling?

First-round rookie receiver Xavier Worthy might seem like a natural candidate for an increased workload, but his role has been somewhat narrowly defined to highlight his strengths – and perhaps protect against his shortcomings. The 5-11, 165-pound deep threat should continue to force defenses to account for his speed, setting up opportunities for others when they do and big-play shots for himself when they don’t. But beyond the occasional heave and a few schemed touches, Worthy might have trouble serving in a more complete capacity until he fills out his frame and grows more comfortable as a short-to-intermediate target.

Much of that work, then, might fall on Justin Watson, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Skyy Moore. Watson ranked third on the team last season with 460 receiving yards, and his established rapport with Patrick Mahomes could allow him to thrive early if he sees an immediate boost in targets. Smith-Schuster is comfortable operating as a physical presence underneath, while Moore can also live in the short area.

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But what if Andy Reid and Brett Veach determine Kansas City needs external help for the stretch run? Of course, landing Davante Adams or another star receiver seems farfetched, especially given that the Chiefs have only $4.9 million in cap space, according to overthecap.com. But with the Nov. 5 trade deadline looming, there could be some intriguing options on the market.

Here are five wide receiver trade options who could make sense for the Chiefs after Rice’s injury:

Darius Slayton, New York Giants

Slayton notched a season-high 56 yards on three catches in a Week 4 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, and he’s played in 81% of the Giants’ offensive snaps so far this season. Still, this offense runs through rookie sensation Malik Nabers, and whatever is left of the scraps is mostly going to slot target Wan’Dale Robinson. Slayton’s burner credentials would surely be put to better use in Kansas City. GM Joe Schoen has been down this road before with Veach, too, having cut bait on Kadarius Toney in an October 2022 deal.

Robert Woods, Houston Texans

If Kansas City is simply looking to add another reliable target rather than swing for a transformative piece, Woods could be a sensible option. No one will confuse a 32-year-old who tore his ACL in 2021 for Rice, but the veteran target could still provide value operating underneath. Houston is settled at receiver with Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, leaving little opportunity for Woods. A trade for a late-round draft pick shouldn’t be difficult to facilitate.

Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots

Bourne is still working his way back from a torn ACL suffered midway through last season. But he’s expected to return to practice this week, and the 29-year-old was averaging a career-best 50.8 yards per game in 2023 before he went down. If he can round back into form, his dependability should catch Kansas City’s attention. But given how its receiving corps continues to underwhelm, New England might be reticent to part with a player who can be an asset for Drake Maye whenever the No. 3 overall pick takes over as the starting quarterback. And after signing Bourne to a three-year deal in March, it certainly seems he’s still in the team’s long-term plans.

Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns

Let’s get into the more intriguing – but less likely – possibilities. Cooper might be the most alluring solution, as it would allow the Chiefs to plug in a bona fide No. 1 target on an expiring deal. Like Bourne, Cooper was dangled in trade talks surrounding San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk, though that represented Cleveland trying to upgrade its passing game rather than selling off its top target. It might be difficult for the Browns to embrace that mindset given the franchise’s inability to get its passing attack settled with Deshaun Watson at the helm. But with this increasingly looking like a lost year for the organization, the front office would have to consider what it could get for a player who might be headed elsewhere after this season. Cooper has struggled with drops in 2024, but a change of scenery – and linking up with Reid and Mahomes – might quickly rejuvenate him. But the financial considerations could be a significant impediment.

DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans

Hopkins and the Chiefs were commonly linked to one another for some time before the five-time Pro Bowler signed a two-year, $26 million deal with the Titans last offseason. Now, however, the timing for the two of them seems right. With Calvin Ridley serving as the main attraction in Tennessee, Ridley could see a sizable jump in usage. And the 32-year-old’s physical style and strength at the catch point would no doubt be tremendously helpful to Mahomes. Since taking over in January 2023, Titans GM Ran Carthon has focused on bringing aboard marquee talent rather than parting with it. But amid an 0-3 start, he would be wise to evaluate his options on a player who doesn’t seem to fit into the franchise’s long-term plans. Still, the sticking point here is once again likely to be the price – in what Kansas City would need to give up, but also the cap element that might put this move out of reach.

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