Interviewing some lesser-known wide receivers who could attract trade interest from the Chiefs

Many people expected the Kansas City Chiefs to make a wide receiver move. Anticipation of a possible move before the upcoming close has only increased in recent days. Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice have been out for a while now. However, JuJu Smith-Schuster will miss the upcoming game against the Las Vegas Raiders due to a hamstring injury. And when you look at the rest of the available names on the wide receiver depth chart, there's little experience or confidence to rely on for Kansas City's remaining wideouts.

Rookie Xavier Worthy has had a few surprises but is still looking for consistent performance. Mecole Hardman just had a solid performance in San Francisco. However, it was difficult to ask him to take on regular duties as a wide receiver rather than a gadget guy. Justin Watson has made some plays in his time with Kansas City. He is obviously a long way from WR1 status. As for Skyy Moore, what does he actually bring to the table at this point?

What kind of move could the Chiefs actually make at the trade deadline for a wide receiver? Most fans would love to see Kansas City bring in a star player in the middle of the season. But in recent history, the path taken by the Chiefs has been the less noticed path. If that's the case again, which names make the most sense?

ESPN's Adam Schefter was a guest The Pat McAfee Show on Monday. Among other things, Schefter was asked whether the Chiefs might make a wide receiver move at the trade deadline. Simply put, the NFL insider's words painted a pretty clear picture.

“I think they're going to look around and ask about wide receivers,” Schefter said. “But here’s the thing, we could bring up some of these other wide receivers. But they want to bring in people who know this system, in general, who Mahomes enjoys working with…”

He added: “I think in a perfect world it's someone like a Demarcus Robinson who knows the system and knows the quarterback that would fit in there and provide some help. It wouldn't be a surprise if they made a move. They'll check everything, of course, but I think they're more likely to get a lesser-known, cheaper player with less draft capital than some of the big names.

Schefter's comments reflect the trade deadline moves Kansas City has made over the past two consecutive seasons with Kadarius Toney and the return of Mecole Hardman from the New York Jets.

See you again with a familiar face

Obviously Demarcus Robinson, who Schefter mentioned The Pat McAfee Showfits that less-touted description perfectly, especially when you add his experience in the system and with Mahomes. Robinson was with the Chiefs from 2016-21 and played alongside Mahomes the last four years. As a depth player, he was a secondary option in numerous playoff runs and helped KC win Super Bowl LIV.

The Chiefs haven't been afraid to bring back names that have helped them in the past. If Robinson were to return to Kansas City, he would join other players like Hardman, Smith-Schuster and Kareem Hunt as talented players who would reunite for an additional stop in the Chiefs' offense. Of note, Robinson is in the final year of his contract with the Rams and would be a free agent this coming offseason.

Other WRs who fit the “lesser known” description

There are other names the Chiefs could trade for that fit the less flashy description. All of these names would fall into this category based on their attitude towards the league and their contract/age.

Let’s move on to the Rams real quick. Tutu Atwell is an option that should not be ruled out. At 25 years old and in the final year of his rookie contract, Atwell fits the size and speed limits this Chiefs regime has stuck with at wide receiver.

Darius Slayton of the New York Giants is a name being bandied about by some Chiefs fans. Slayton is 27 years old and also in the final year of his contract. Slayton has been able to provide adequate production for a largely anemic Giants offense so far this season.

Take a risk when the prospects are announced

Elijah Moore is part of a Browns team that finds itself in a dire situation. Maybe he makes a little sense for someone like Kansas City. He is 24 years old and in the final year of his contract with Cleveland. Moore has been up and down at times, but he has shown moments of being victorious against man coverage and down the field.

Prospects like Jonathan Mingo and Jalin Hyatt could also make sense for the Chiefs. General manager Brett Veach has never been afraid to take risks on young players who haven't quite established themselves as former top draft picks. Both Mingo and Hyatt are in their second season in the NFL and both are 23 years old. Even though they are former top-75 draft selections, their teams can accept any compensation they could get to help them in the future. Each player would get a fresh start in a more competitive situation.

Even if the Chiefs go the less advocated route with a wide receiver move, there is palpable enthusiasm among big-name players to point to. I don't think it's impossible for Kansas City to acquire another one of these stars or quality pieces. Still, there are both advantages and disadvantages to turning to a man with a big name.

DeAndre Hopkins is a veteran on a bad Tennessee Titans team. There have been ties between Hopkins and Kansas City before, most notably when he was released by the Arizona Cardinals. The age factor is the big obstacle here, considering Veach has made a number of trades or free agent signings recently.

In his return to the Rams, Cooper Kupp, who may be available, has now gained traction. If he is indeed available, would Kansas City be willing to go there with a well-documented injury history over the past few seasons?

Finally, my personal preference for a wide receiver trade deadline move would be Diontae Johnson of the Carolina Panthers. I don't think it's out of the question that the Chiefs have some interest here. But given KC's cap space situation, salary adjustment may be the biggest hurdle. On the bright side, his younger age (28) and separation ability could help ensure he is in excellent shape for the rest of this season. Looking ahead to next year and beyond, the Chiefs don't have many wide receivers under contract. The chance to extend Johnson would also be tempting.