The vibe around GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium is... weird. For the last decade, January in Kansas City meant hosting the AFC Championship and ordering Super Bowl rings. But right now? The Chiefs are sitting at home after a brutal 6-11 finish. It’s the first time they’ve missed the postseason since 2015, and honestly, the roster looks like it’s being held together by duct tape and nostalgia.
Patrick Mahomes is currently rehabbing a torn ACL. Travis Kelce is reportedly eyeing a "billionaire lifestyle" retirement. The front office is staring at a salary cap deficit that looks like a typo—roughly $58 million over the limit. When you're that far in the red, Kansas City Chiefs trade rumors stop being fun offseason speculation and start becoming survival tactics. General Manager Brett Veach is backed into a corner, and that usually means someone we love is getting shipped out.
The Trent McDuffie Trade Dilemma
If you’d told a Chiefs fan a year ago that Trent McDuffie would be on the block, they’d have laughed in your face. He’s a two-time All-Pro. He’s 25. He’s the engine of that secondary. But the reality of 2026 is hitting hard. McDuffie is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and his projected market value is sitting at a cool $27.9 million per year.
That’s Sauce Gardner money.
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The rumors are swirling because the Chiefs have a history here. Remember L’Jarius Sneed? They didn't pay him; they traded him. According to recent reports from The Athletic and The Times of India, the team is weighing whether to move McDuffie now to recoup a first-round pick rather than losing him for nothing later. If they can’t agree on an extension that lowers his current $13.6 million cap hit, a trade isn't just possible—it’s logical. It’s cold, but it’s how this front office operates. They'd rather be a year too early than a year too late.
Moving Mountains (and Contracts): Jawaan Taylor and Chris Jones
Then there’s the Jawaan Taylor situation. $80 million for a tackle who leads the league in yellow flags isn't exactly a "win" for the front office. Rumors suggest the Chiefs are desperately looking for a suitor to take on that contract. Trading him could save $20 million in cap space. With rookie Josh Simmons looking like a legitimate blindside protector, Taylor feels like an expensive luxury the team can no longer afford.
But what about the CEO of the defense, Chris Jones?
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Jones carries a massive cap hit of nearly $45 million for 2026. You can’t just "cut" a guy like that without destroying your defense, but you also can't keep that number on the books if you want to sign a single free agent. Expect "trade or restructure" to be the only two words spoken in his agent's office this month. If a desperate contender offers a haul for a future Hall of Famer, Veach might actually pick up the phone.
Real Targets: Who Could Actually Join the Chiefs?
It isn't all about losing players. The Chiefs need help. Badly. The running back room is basically empty with Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco hitting free agency. The name everyone is whispering? Breece Hall.
The Chiefs tried to snag him at the deadline last year and failed. Now that he's a free agent (and the Jets are, well, the Jets), the interest is back. He’d be an instant fix for a stagnant offense. Some analysts, like those at The Sporting News, are even suggesting a wild "buy low" trade for A.J. Brown. The Eagles receiver had a rough Wild Card showing, and if Philly wants to reset, the Chiefs could potentially swoop in. Imagine Mahomes coming back from an ACL to find A.J. Brown and Xavier Worthy waiting for him. That's a "Super Bowl window" move if I've ever seen one.
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Potential Defensive Reinforcements
- Trey Hendrickson: The Bengals' pass rusher is 31 and coming off surgery, but a trade for a veteran presence alongside George Karlaftis is being discussed.
- Kyle Pitts: With Kelce likely hanging them up, the rumors about a Pitts trade from Atlanta refuse to die. He’s 25 and fits the athletic profile Andy Reid loves.
- Draft Capital: Picking 9th overall gives the Chiefs their highest pick in the Mahomes era. There is serious talk about trading down from 9 to pick up extra second and third-rounders to fill the holes at Edge and Guard.
Why the Mahomes Trade Talk is (Mostly) Nonsense
I have to mention it because it's everywhere on social media: the Patrick Mahomes trade rumors. Let’s be real—trading a generational QB while he’s rehabbing an injury is Madden-level fantasy. Yes, analysts like Brad Gagnon have floated the "what if" scenario because the cap hit is $78 million, but Andy Reid has already shut that down. Mahomes is the franchise. You don't trade the sun because the clouds moved in for one season.
The real "trade" news is about the supporting cast. The Chiefs have ten games last season decided by seven points or less. They lost most of them. That tells you the margin for error is gone. The roster needs a "soft reset," much like the one that followed the Tyreek Hill trade.
How the Chiefs Fix This: The Path Forward
So, what does this actually look like in practice? The front office has a deadline of March 11 to get under the cap. Here is the realistic roadmap based on current league chatter:
- The "Sneed" Treatment: Trade Trent McDuffie to a CB-needy team (like the Raiders or Lions) for a 2026 first-round pick and a mid-round flyer.
- The Taylor Exit: If they can't find a trade partner for Jawaan Taylor, they’ll likely designate him as a post-June 1 cut to spread the pain.
- The Veteran Pivot: Use the cleared space to trade for a disgruntled veteran like A.J. Brown or sign Breece Hall to a "prove-it" deal.
- Draft for Volume: Trade the 9th overall pick for a package of picks. They need cheap starters at Left Guard, Defensive End, and Safety.
This offseason is going to be painful for fans who have grown attached to the dynasty core. But 6-11 doesn't happen by accident. It's a sign that the old way isn't working anymore. If you want to stay updated, keep a close eye on the "legal tampering" window starting March 9. That’s when we’ll see if these Kansas City Chiefs trade rumors turn into reality.
Next Steps for Chiefs Fans:
Monitor the official NFL transaction wire between March 9 and March 11 for "Restructure" announcements involving Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones. These moves are the dominoes that must fall before any major trade for a wide receiver or running back can be finalized.