The Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly spent weeks exploring the wide receiver market as they approach the November 10 trade deadline. With Rashee Rice recovering from a hamstring injury and Tyquan Thornton sidelined, general manager Brett Veach is actively seeking additional support for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The need for improved receiving options became evident during Kansas City’s 20-3 loss to Seattle, where the passing attack struggled to produce meaningful yardage.
Acquiring another receiver would help address a clear weakness in the team’s offense. However, the Chiefs must also consider what they can offer in exchange. As a contender in the AFC, Veach is unlikely to give up valuable draft capital without assessing which players on the current roster could serve as useful trade assets.
There are three particularly interesting possibilities for trade.
3. Justin Fields
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Justin Fields arrived in Kansas City under unusual circumstances. The Chiefs acquired him from the New York Jets in March, giving up a sixth-round selection in the 2027 draft to secure an experienced backup while Patrick Mahomes continued recovering from a serious knee injury he sustained late in 2025. Initially, the arrangement made sense for both parties. Fields had struggled to establish himself as a reliable NFL starter, but his mobility and past starting experience offered Kansas City an alternative to relying solely on an inexperienced backup.
Financially, the deal also favored the Chiefs. New York agreed to cover most of Fields’ guaranteed compensation, leaving Kansas City responsible for approximately $3 million in 2026. Fields has remained behind Mahomes on the depth chart, limiting his opportunities to showcase whether working with head coach Andy Reid could revive his career as a starting quarterback. This situation could become relevant as the trade deadline approaches, as several teams are grappling with inconsistent quarterback play or uncertainty about their long-term options.
A team in search of a temporary starter might prefer Fields over an inexperienced player who has never managed an NFL offense. He has started games for multiple organizations, understands the physical demands of the position, and offers rushing ability that can help offset some limitations in his passing game. For Kansas City, trading Fields could provide the chance to recover the draft pick spent on acquiring him, potentially supplying another asset for negotiations involving a receiver. Additionally, the Chiefs selected Garrett Nussmeier in the seventh round of the 2026 draft, giving the organization a developmental quarterback who could eventually take on greater responsibility.
However, the challenge of moving Fields lies in the fact that his greatest value to Kansas City is apparent only if Mahomes cannot play.
2. Jaden Hicks
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Jaden Hicks presents an intriguing trade possibility because his value stems from his age and developmental potential rather than extensive starting experience. The Kansas City Chiefs selected Hicks in the fourth round of the 2024 draft following an impressive college career at Washington State, where he showcased the physicality and versatility needed to handle various defensive responsibilities. Kansas City has utilized him in multiple secondary alignments, including traditional safety roles and coverage responsibilities closer to the line of scrimmage. His combination of size and athleticism gives defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo flexibility in designing packages against opposing passing attacks.
Hicks has shown flashes of his potential throughout his first three seasons, including three interceptions as a rookie. His playing time increased in 2025 when he recorded 42 tackles and appeared in all 17 regular-season games. This season, his opportunities have been inconsistent, despite making three starts in six appearances. The Chiefs have been continually adjusting their secondary combinations, relying on more established defenders in the defensive backfield.
Hicks has recorded 29 tackles this season, including 14 solo stops, which demonstrates his ability to contribute when given meaningful playing time. His performance against Indianapolis was particularly encouraging, as he tallied 10 combined tackles during one of his more extensive assignments. These contributions could make him appealing to a team seeking a young safety capable of developing into a permanent starter. The trade market often rewards teams willing to invest in defenders whose roles are limited by roster competition. Hicks would provide an acquiring franchise with a player who already understands NFL coverage concepts and has experience in a demanding defensive system.
His rookie contract extends beyond this season, allowing another organization to evaluate him without the immediate pressure of negotiating a substantial extension. Kansas City may consider trading Hicks if another team offers compensation that exceeds what the Chiefs would typically expect for a rotational defensive back. A middle-round draft pick or a player who can address an immediate offensive need could make negotiations interesting.
1. Kristian Fulton
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Kristian Fulton is the strongest trade candidate on Kansas City’s roster because the financial commitment tied to his contract has become difficult to reconcile with his current defensive responsibilities.
The Chiefs signed Fulton to a two-year, $20 million contract in 2025, expecting the former second-round selection to bolster a secondary in need of additional experience, but his first season produced mixed results. He appeared in eight games and showed promising coverage skills at times, but injuries and changes to the defensive rotation hindered his ability to secure a permanent starting position. Kansas City later invested heavily in revamping its cornerback group by selecting Mansoor Delane in the first round of the 2026 draft while also continuing to develop younger defensive backs. These decisions have significantly impacted Fulton’s opportunities.
In the first six games of the season, Fulton participated in approximately 33 percent of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps. Delane has established himself as a key contributor, while other cornerbacks have taken on significant roles in the secondary. This reduced playing time raises an important question for General Manager Brett Veach: Should Kansas City retain an expensive reserve for the remainder of the season, or should they explore the possibility of trading him to another team?
Fulton carries a $13 million salary-cap charge in 2026, with his contract set to expire after the season, and his base salary includes guaranteed money, meaning that the financial implications of moving him would require careful consideration. A trade would not eliminate the financial commitments made to the veteran; Kansas City would still be responsible for any applicable prorated bonus charges, while the acquiring team would have to accommodate the remaining salary associated with his contract.
These details could complicate negotiations, but they do not rule out the possibility of a trade. Fulton still has starting experience and has shown that he can compete effectively against NFL receivers when healthy, and a team that is dealing with injuries at cornerback might see him as a valuable addition, especially if its defensive system allows for better utilization of his coverage skills.
Kansas City could be willing to accept modest draft compensation in exchange for relieving its salary obligations and gaining additional roster flexibility, and this flexibility becomes particularly appealing as the Chiefs actively explore the receiver market. Even if trading Fulton does not directly yield the offensive reinforcement they need, recovering an asset could provide Veach with more options in separate trades.
Nevertheless, Fulton no longer occupies a role that justifies his substantial financial commitment. With his contract nearing expiration and younger players taking on larger roles, the idea of trading him deserves serious consideration. The Chiefs have little incentive to dismantle a roster capable of competing, but their need for offensive reinforcements could drive selective outgoing transactions.
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