The Chiefs have cap space, but the free agent market is thinning. So what comes next?
General manager Brett Veach could look to pursue some trades ahead of the draft next month. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s sought a player in a trade, though typically most of his deals have happened after the draft and closer to the start of the season. There have been some reports of several players on the trading block, and there are others out there worth inquiring about.
Here are four players the Chiefs should pursue in trade ahead of the draft.
Rasul Douglas | CB | Eagles
The Eagles have six corners on the roster who are 25 or younger, and they still gave up the third-most passing yards in the NFL in 2018. It’d be naive to think that they wouldn’t listen to offers on some of these guys. After they re-signed Ronald Darby last week, it’s even more apparent that the Eagles could end up shopping a corner.
Douglas joined the Eagles in 2017 as a third-round pick out of West Virginia. He’s 6 feet 2, 210 pounds, and he runs the 40-yard dash in the 4.5-second range. He didn’t play much early in the 2018 season but began starting in Week 10 and helped the Eagles make their playoff push.
The Chiefs are rebuilding their secondary in the mold of the early 2000s Eagles. They’ve got Tyrann Mathieu to play the Brian Dawkins role, and they’ve got Charvarius Ward to play the Troy Vincent role. What they don’t currently have is someone to be Bobby Taylor, who provided a big, physical corner with a penchant for contesting passes. Vincent has actually previously said his pro comparison for Douglas is Taylor.
To say this would be the perfect addition via trade for the Chiefs would be an understatement. Not only does he fit the size and athletic profile they’re looking for, but he’s got two more affordable years on his contract. The Chiefs should offer a middle-round draft pick in a trade and never look back.
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Xavier Rhodes | CB | Vikings
The MMQB’s Albert Breer said that for the right price the Vikings would be willing to move Rhodes. I’m curious what that price might be given that Rhodes is coming off his worst season since his rookie year.
Sure he dealt with some injury trouble, but that doesn’t help his cause. Rhodes is approaching 30 years old, and he’s got four years left on his contract with some high cap charges each season. Most teams aren’t going to want to give that much up for Rhodes and assume that type of contract.
If the Chiefs can somehow get Rhodes at a bargain rate in a trade, and can figure out a way to assume his contract without hurting themselves in the future, it could be a good option for them. Perhaps a change of scenery and coaching can get Rhodes back to be being one of the NFL’s elite corners.
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John Ross | WR | Bengals
Before you say that Ross isn’t available for trade, let me remind you that Odell Beckham Jr. wasn’t available for trade either. Ross has been an overwhelming disappointment since the Bengals made him the No. 9 pick in the 2017 NFL draft. That last season’s league MVP went one selection later to the Chiefs probably makes it even harder to stomach for the Bengals.
It’s unclear whether Zac Taylor and the new coaching staff are willing to give Ross another shot, but if a team came calling with a sufficient trade offer, I can’t imagine that it would be refused. Even a third- or fourth-round pick might get the attention of the Cincinnati front office.
The Chiefs have needs at wide receiver, and that’s not taking into account the police investigation involving Tyreek Hill. Chris Conley is a Jacksonville Jaguar, and De’Anthony Thomas is a free agent. Both players were on the 53-man roster to start the season.
If Kansas City is looking to add a receiver via trade, Ross is a good boom-or-bust option. I’d take my chances knowing that Patrick Mahomes is far more talented than Andy Dalton, and that Andy Reid can get the most out of a receiver that runs a 4.22 40-yard dash.
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Carl Nassib | DE | Buccaneers
Tampa Bay has a new head coach and defensive coordinator. It’s unclear right now what their opinion is on Nassib, but he’s not exactly suited for the 3-4 scheme that DC Todd Bowles plans on running.
The Buccaneers picked Nassib up off of waivers in 2018, and he was a pleasant surprise replacing the injured Vinny Curry. If Tampa Bay can flip Nassib with one year left on his contract for draft capital, they’d be fools not to do it. Especially when they can go out and sign a guy that better fits their system.
Kansas City gutted their edge-rush group in order to get younger and cheaper. If the Chiefs called up the Buccaneers and offered them a late-round pick for Nassib it has potential to be a winning scenario for both teams.
Nassib has the potential to improve on his breakout 2018 season (29 total tackles, 6.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss). Brendan Daly is the type of coach who could help him harness his abilities and continue to improve.
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