Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has an aggressive reputation when it comes to making trades. Traditionally, August is the month when he likes to get his trading done. In August 2017, after Veach took over, he made two trades to acquire linebacker Reggie Ragland and offensive lineman Cameron Erving.
In 2018, Veach made trades to acquire cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Jordan Lucas. Both of those trades occurred in August, ahead of the start of the season. So who could Veach have his eye on this year? What positions could he target? What will it take to get them? Here are three possibilities.
Dolphins TE Clive Walford for Chiefs DT Justin Hamilton
In 2015, Walford took a pre-draft visit with the Chiefs. After he was released from the Raiders, he worked out for Kansas City, but the Chiefs had much better tight end depth at the time with Travis Kelce and Demetrius Harris. Now they’re struggling to find the right player to back up the star tight end, with Harris having moved on in free agency. Walford could be the answer to their problems.
The Dolphins have a surplus of tight ends, with five guys who could possibly make the team. It’s entirely possible that Nick O’Leary or Durham Smythe could also be available in trade. But we know Walford is a guy the Chiefs have shown interest in previously, so he could be someone they push for if a trade is brought up.
Defensive tackle is a need in Miami after Kendrick Norton had to have his left arm amputated as a result of an auto accident. This would be a rare player-for-player swap in the NFL, but it could work to the benefit of both teams.
The Chiefs have done business with the Dolphins before, acquiring Jordan Lucas ahead of the 2018 season.
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Redskins CB Quinton Dunbar for 2020 fifth-round pick
The Chiefs already have much of the 2016-2017 Redskins cornerback group on the roster. They might as well go ahead and seek to add another player from that group. Dunbar already has chemistry developed with both Kendall Fuller and Bashaud Breeland. He can also play a number of different positions in the secondary.
There’s currently a logjam of talent at the CB position in Washington with new additions via the draft like Jimmy Moreland. Free agency brought them veteran CB Dominique Rodger-Cromartie. Greg Stroman and Fabian Moreau have both seen some success in the past, and they have 2018 supplemental draft pick Adonis Alexander. There are enough bodies available that the Redskins could be looking to send someone to another team for a late-round draft pick. Dunbar is looking like a guy who could be left out, especially if they opt to keep some of these other players on the roster.
The Redskins and Chiefs have done business before as recently as the Alex Smith trade. I have it on good authority that during those talks, Dunbar was also discussed, but the Chiefs pressed for Kendall Fuller. If the Chiefs can add Dunbar and reinforce their CB group for the cost of only a Day 3 draft pick, it’ll be considered a big win.
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Packers CB Josh Jackson for 2020 second-round pick
When the Chiefs traded up to pick No. 46 in the 2018 NFL draft, it felt like they didn’t expect the Packers to double-dip at cornerback and take Josh Jackson one selection ahead at No. 45 overall. Instead, the Chiefs ended up with Breeland Speaks, who played out of position at outside linebacker in 2018.
If Jackson was a player the Chiefs front office was targeting, we all know how bullish Veach is about acquiring his guys. He previously tried to acquire both Sammy Watkins and Anthony Hitchens in trades before signing them as free agents in 2018. Could Veach manage to pull off a trade for Jackson?
It’s not as far-fetched as it might sound for the Packers to give up on Jackson so early. He started 10 games last season and had 10 pass breakups but no takeaways.
During training camp, Jackson has missed valuable repetitions with a foot injury. Corner Kevin King is also currently out with injury, and it’s not clear how long he’ll be out. But there are several other corners standing out at Packers training camp, such as Jaire Alexander, Tony Brown, Tramon Williams, Chandon Sullivan and Ka’Dar Hollman. They can’t keep everybody, and if Jackson doesn’t get on the field, he’s at risk of losing his spot.
It might make sense for the Packers to trade Jackson while acquiring another second-round pick in the process. If the Chiefs need to sweeten the pot to make it happen, they have some players they could throw in on the offensive or defensive side of the ball.
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