Sunday Night Night Football exposed the playbook for beating the Chiefs: stop Kenneth Walker. Once the running game stalled, it became clear how little help Patrick Mahomes has at wide receiver.

Mahomes finished the game with just 165 passing yards, and his leading receivers were 37-year-old Travis Kelce and running back Kenneth Walker, with only four receptions apiece. The closest thing to a wide receiver threat was Xavier Worthy, but he hasn’t met expectations lately. As great as his speed is, his size has been an issue, and lately so have his drops.

I have to stop and ask myself: is this an overreaction? I don’t think so. The wide receiver problem has been around since last year, and during the offseason Brett Veach decided to push his chips in on Kenneth Walker at running back. That worked for the first five games, but once the Chiefs ran into a great run defense, they got into trouble.

Injuries are another factor, and as we all know, they’re something you can’t control. I can’t forget to mention Tyquan Thornton’s injury against the Raiders. With him out for the year, Mahomes lost his deep threat. It was a terrible injury, and I hope he recovers soon; it’s always sad to see players go down like that.

Losing Rashee Rice for a few weeks definitely hurts, too. After a slow start, he put up 80-plus yards in Weeks 2 and 3, and he can make an impact once he returns, which is expected in Week 8 against Denver.

But Rashee Rice can’t save the passing game alone. I still think Veach should make a move for a wide receiver in the coming weeks. Veach famously doesn’t spend much financial or draft capital on players during the regular season, but according to media reports, it looks like he’s shopping.

With that said, I’ve put together three different lists of wide receivers.

What I’d Like

Garret Wilson: This guy could completely change the Chiefs’ offense. He’s in his fifth NFL season and has played with the following quarterbacks::

• Zach Wilson (2022–2023)
• Joe Flacco (2022)
• Mike White (2022–2023)
• Chris Streveler (2022)
• Aaron Rodgers (2023, 2024)
• Tim Boyle (2023)
• Trevor Siemian (2023)
• Justin Fields (2025)
• Tyrod Taylor (2025 / rotation)
• Geno Smith (2026 season)

He has had three 1,000-plus receiving yard seasons with quarterbacks who barely threw for 4,000 yards, and last season was cut short by a knee injury. With the Jets on track for another losing season, it seems realistic that they could part ways with him. The only thing that might hold them back is that they already have three first-round picks, which may be enough for them to keep him as a veteran presence in the locker room.

Brian Thomas Jr: He started his rookie season hot, finishing with 1,200 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. In 2025, when Liam Coen took over the reins of the Jaguars, his production dropped to only 700 receiving yards.

As Coen has publicly stated, he tends to go with the hot hand, which has fractured his relationship with Thomas. It has gotten to the point where Thomas has only nine receptions for 105 yards in six games this season.

Is he worth a trade for the Chiefs? I think so. Players who have performed at the highest level and then struggled in their environment sometimes just need a fresh start. I’m not sure Veach is willing to do that, but the Jaguars’ desire to move on from him may make him “cheap” enough for Veach to pull the trigger.

Jerry Jeudy: With the emergence of rookie wide receivers KC Concepcion and Boston, the Cleveland Browns have moved him down the offensive pecking order. If the Browns want to accumulate some draft capital, he may be someone they’d be willing to part with. I think he’d be a perfect fit for the Chiefs, since he could fill the vertical threat that Thornton provided for Mahomes before his injury.

Unfortunately, the Browns haven’t publicly said they’re willing to trade him. That means there would be a “premium” that Veach may not be willing to pay. Especially with the Browns currently leading the AFC North, I don’t see any need for their GM to make a move.

Veteran Fallback Options Veach Might Be Tempted By

Tyreke Hill: A familiar face who could be a safe fallback to fill the wide receiver void left by Thornton. He’s a great vertical threat who knows the offense and, honestly, the entire team.

He’s close to a year removed from a dislocated left knee and multiple torn ligaments, so the question is whether he’s back to 100%. His Instagram posts will tell you he is, but it’s hard to know until you see him play in a game.

Hollywood Brown: Another familiar face for the Chiefs. He spent the Matt Nagy years in Kansas City and understands the Andy Reid playbook. That said, his two years there were lackluster, with only 587 receiving yards in his final season. He was once a promising free-agent signing, but after suffering an SC joint dislocation in 2024, he hasn’t been the same.

What I Think Will Happen

I think the Chiefs will trade for Josh Downs. The Colts are in the middle of a “fire sale,” with acting GM Ed Dodds trading players away for draft picks.

He traded All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, and Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the 49ers for a 2027 fourth-round pick.

Looking at the Chiefs’ needs, Downs would provide a vertical threat in Bieniemy’s offense and fit the “affordable” tag Veach usually goes for when he trades in the middle of the season.