{"id":92160,"date":"2025-08-22T07:31:02","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T07:31:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160"},"modified":"2025-08-22T07:31:02","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T07:31:02","slug":"report-1-last-minute-trade-chiefs-must-make-before-week-1-of-2025-nfl-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: 1 last-minute trade Chiefs must make before Week 1 of 2025 NFL season"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"flex w-full max-w-[980px] flex-col px-4 pt-4 font-secondary lg:px-0\">\n<p class=\"dek prose mb-2.5 italic text-secondary\"><em>Here we&#8217;ll try to look at and discuss the last-minute trade that the Kansas City Chiefs must make before Week 1 of 2025 NFL season.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full max-w-[980px] flex-row gap-5\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col lg:max-w-[660px]\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aspect-video w-full max-w-full object-contain object-center px-4 lg:px-0\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1-last-minute-trade-Chiefs-must-make-before-Week-1-of-2025-NFL-season.jpg?w=1200\" alt=\"Joshua Williams in the middle, Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones around him, Kansas City Chiefs logo in the background\" \/><\/figure>\n<article class=\"article-body prose max-w-none pb-7 pt-5 prose-figure:max-w-full prose-ol:pl-10 prose-img:max-w-full prose-video:max-w-full md:prose-ol:pl-6 [&amp;_iframe]:m-auto [&amp;_iframe]:block [&amp;_iframe]:max-w-full\">With Patrick Mahomes under center and Andy Reid orchestrating the show, the\u00a0Kansas City Chiefs have managed to stay on top even in years when they\u2019ve looked more vulnerable. Yet as the 2025 season approaches, there are cracks forming that Kansas City cannot afford to ignore.<\/p>\n<p>The Chiefs\u2019 formula has worked for years, of course, but no dynasty lasts forever without tough roster decisions. One such move could involve trimming a crowded cornerback group to secure depth in other areas and ensure long-term flexibility.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>The Chiefs\u2019 Preseason So Far<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Mahomes, of course, is coming off a season in which he posted career lows in both passing yards and yards per attempt. The Chiefs finished just 15th in total points scored last season.<\/p>\n<p>This raised fair questions about how they continue to win at such a high level. The answer lies in their defense. In 2024, Kansas City allowed only 19.2 points per game, which was the fourth-fewest in the league. That side carried the team through stretches when the offense sputtered.<\/p>\n<p>Maintaining that defensive health will once again be essential if Reid is\u00a0to add another Lombardi Trophy\u00a0to the collection. However, even with that strength, the front office must take proactive steps\u00a0to balance the roster\u00a0for the gauntlet of another AFC campaign.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3476567\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3476567\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3476567\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Reid-and-Mahomes.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Reid-and-Mahomes.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Reid-and-Mahomes.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Reid-and-Mahomes.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Reid-and-Mahomes.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Reid-and-Mahomes.jpg?resize=150,84 150w\" alt=\"Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid talks to quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) before the game between the Cleveland Browns and the Chiefs at Huntington Bank Field.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3476567\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ken Blaze-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On the offensive side, much hinges on Rashee Rice.<\/p>\n<p>Though he is no longer expected\u00a0to serve a four-game suspension, Rice enters 2025 under pressure to prove he can once again be the team\u2019s top wideout.<\/p>\n<p>Training camp has shown flashes of the explosiveness and yards-after-catch ability that fueled his breakout.<\/p>\n<p>Still, consistency will be the real test. If he comes out strong in September, the Chiefs could rediscover their offensive edge.<\/p>\n<p>If not, the burden will fall heavily on 35-year-old Travis Kelce as Mahomes&#8217; reliable safety valve. On the flip side, Kelce is undeniably\u00a0nearing the twilight of his career.<\/p>\n<p>Here we&#8217;ll try to look at and discuss the last-minute trade that the Kansas City Chiefs must make before Week 1 of 2025 NFL season.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why Kansas City Needs to Clear Space at Corner<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>One of the most overlooked aspects of Kansas City\u2019s run of dominance has been its ability to stockpile and develop cornerbacks.<\/p>\n<p>Trent McDuffie has blossomed into a star, while Jaylen Watson and others have carved out meaningful roles. The Chiefs also doubled down this offseason by signing Kristian Fulton and drafting Nohl Williams in the third round. That gives the team both proven experience and promising youth at the position.<\/p>\n<p>That depth is enviable, but it also creates tough roster math. Carrying too many corners can clog snaps, stall development, and limit opportunities to address other pressing needs. For players like Joshua Williams, it leaves little room to grow.<\/p>\n<p>Williams was a fourth-round pick in 2022. He has been a steady depth piece but not a standout. He\u2019s played no more than 38 percent of the team\u2019s defensive snaps in a season, producing 91 tackles, 18 pass breakups, and one interception over three years.<\/p>\n<p>His advanced metrics tell the story: a career passer rating allowed of 91.3 and a 51.6 percent completion rate against him\u2014solid, but not elite.<\/p>\n<p>In 2024, Pro Football Focus graded him at 64.3 overall with a 68.3 coverage grade. With that, he ranks 57th out of 222 qualifying cornerbacks.<\/p>\n<p>Respectable numbers, but nothing that screams irreplaceable. And with him playing deep into preseason games, it\u2019s clear the Chiefs view him more as a roster bubble player than a long-term contributor.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>The Trade That Makes the Most Sense<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Kansas City Chiefs:<\/strong>\u00a0CB Joshua Williams to Tennessee Titans (or any other team) for 2026 late-round pick<\/p>\n<p>This move would benefit both franchises. For Kansas City, it clears a logjam in the secondary, recoups a draft pick, and opens space to potentially add depth at other positions.<\/p>\n<p>This may include spots along the defensive line, where Felix Anudike-Uzomah\u2019s injury has left the Chiefs thinner than they\u2019d like. While Williams is a capable backup, he\u2019s no longer essential given the influx of talent in the secondary.<\/p>\n<p>For the Titans or any other possible trade partner, this trade provides immediate value.<\/p>\n<p>Tennessee\u2019s cornerback group has been one of the weakest in the league, and Williams, at just 25 years old, still has the upside to develop into a reliable starter with more playing time.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s physical, experienced in big games, and could stabilize a unit that desperately needs consistency. A fifth or sixth-round pick is a small price to pay for a player who has logged playoff snaps and knows what it takes to win in January.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>A Familiar Trade Partner<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>This wouldn\u2019t be the first time these two front offices did business.<\/p>\n<p>The Chiefs and Titans recently worked out the L\u2019Jarius Sneed trade, so the communication channels are open and trust is established. A Williams-for-pick deal would be relatively straightforward compared to blockbuster trades. This makes it feasible to pull off before Week 1.<\/p>\n<p>Sure, other teams might inquire.<\/p>\n<p>However, Tennessee at this point looks like the cleanest fit. They have the need, the cap space, and the draft flexibility to take on Williams without hesitation. Meanwhile, Kansas City avoids letting him play out his final contract year with little return.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why It\u2019s Time to Act<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3482925\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3482925\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3482925\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Jaylen-Warren.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Jaylen-Warren.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Jaylen-Warren.jpg?resize=300,168 300w, https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Jaylen-Warren.jpg?resize=768,430 768w, https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Jaylen-Warren.jpg?resize=1024,573 1024w, https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Jaylen-Warren.jpg?resize=150,84 150w\" alt=\"Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) runs the ball against Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace (30) and cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"573\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3482925\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Chiefs have thrived by being proactive rather than reactive. Moving Joshua Williams now fits that philosophy. He\u2019s not a liability, but he\u2019s not critical either. Instead of letting him languish at the bottom of the depth chart, Kansas City can flip him for future value and maintain the balance that has made them perennial contenders.<\/p>\n<p>As Mahomes and Reid gear up for another title run, every roster spot matters. The defense is the bedrock of this team.<\/p>\n<p>However, that doesn\u2019t mean the front office should hoard depth where it isn\u2019t needed. By executing this trade, Kansas City strengthens its long-term outlook while giving a young player a chance to reboot his career elsewhere.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>A Small Move With Big Impact<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Dynasties aren\u2019t maintained by splashy moves alone.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re sustained by smart, efficient decisions on the margins. Trading Williams to Tennessee for a sixth-round pick won\u2019t dominate headlines. Still, it could keep the Chiefs\u2019 roster lean, balanced, and ready for another Super Bowl run. Sometimes, the smallest trades are the ones that keep a championship window wide open.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here we&#8217;ll try to look at and discuss the last-minute trade that the Kansas City Chiefs must make before Week 1 of 2025 NFL season. With Patrick&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":92163,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-92160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>REPORT: 1 last-minute trade Chiefs must make before Week 1 of 2025 NFL season - News 365<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"REPORT: 1 last-minute trade Chiefs must make before Week 1 of 2025 NFL season - News 365\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Here we&#8217;ll try to look at and discuss the last-minute trade that the Kansas City Chiefs must make before Week 1 of 2025 NFL season. With Patrick...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"News 365\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-08-22T07:31:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/3-87.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"360\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"MsThao\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"MsThao\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160\",\"name\":\"REPORT: 1 last-minute trade Chiefs must make before Week 1 of 2025 NFL season - News 365\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/3-87.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-22T07:31:02+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-08-22T07:31:02+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/bd62b4f1523cc864d4f4e151cc009bc0\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/3-87.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/3-87.png\",\"width\":640,\"height\":360},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"REPORT: 1 last-minute trade Chiefs must make before Week 1 of 2025 NFL season\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/\",\"name\":\"News 365\",\"description\":\"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/bd62b4f1523cc864d4f4e151cc009bc0\",\"name\":\"MsThao\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/38555279c6b6b7febdf09c87b184059dc428484397a9d8d577024da5d6e35287?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/38555279c6b6b7febdf09c87b184059dc428484397a9d8d577024da5d6e35287?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"MsThao\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?author=2\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"REPORT: 1 last-minute trade Chiefs must make before Week 1 of 2025 NFL season - News 365","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"REPORT: 1 last-minute trade Chiefs must make before Week 1 of 2025 NFL season - News 365","og_description":"Here we&#8217;ll try to look at and discuss the last-minute trade that the Kansas City Chiefs must make before Week 1 of 2025 NFL season. With Patrick...","og_url":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160","og_site_name":"News 365","article_published_time":"2025-08-22T07:31:02+00:00","og_image":[{"width":640,"height":360,"url":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/3-87.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"MsThao","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"MsThao","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160","url":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160","name":"REPORT: 1 last-minute trade Chiefs must make before Week 1 of 2025 NFL season - News 365","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/3-87.png","datePublished":"2025-08-22T07:31:02+00:00","dateModified":"2025-08-22T07:31:02+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/bd62b4f1523cc864d4f4e151cc009bc0"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/3-87.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/3-87.png","width":640,"height":360},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=92160#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"REPORT: 1 last-minute trade Chiefs must make before Week 1 of 2025 NFL season"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/","name":"News 365","description":"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/bd62b4f1523cc864d4f4e151cc009bc0","name":"MsThao","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/38555279c6b6b7febdf09c87b184059dc428484397a9d8d577024da5d6e35287?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/38555279c6b6b7febdf09c87b184059dc428484397a9d8d577024da5d6e35287?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"MsThao"},"url":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?author=2"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92160","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=92160"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92160\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":92166,"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92160\/revisions\/92166"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/92163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=92160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=92160"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=92160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}