Tuesday was a busy day for the NFL, with two receiver trades shaking things up.
While it’s not exactly an “arms race,” you could call it a “hands race.” But don’t expect Patrick Mahomes to be pushing Chiefs GM Brett Veach to jump into the action.
“I have complete confidence in the guys we have on the field,” Mahomes said on Wednesday, via ESPN. “These are players who’ve won games, won Super Bowls, and made big plays when it mattered most. Brett Veach has done a great job of bringing in guys who are ready to step up when their time comes.”
Veach has certainly been working to support his star quarterback. During the offseason, he added Marquise Brown and drafted Texas speedster Xavier Worthy to strengthen the receiving corps for 2024. However, the Chiefs are finding themselves in a familiar spot—similar to 2023—where Mahomes had to rely on rookie Rashee Rice, future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce, and an under-the-radar group of receivers.
This season, Mahomes’ targets include Worthy, veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster (in his second stint with the Chiefs), and Kelce, who has had a slower-than-usual start through the first five games. Justin Watson, Mecole Hardman, and Skyy Moore are also available, but haven’t made a huge impact yet. With Brown sidelined due to a collarbone injury in the preseason and Rice out with a knee injury suffered in Week 4, things aren’t getting any easier.
On paper, it makes sense for the Chiefs to add another receiver. But so far, they’ve stayed put. And now, with Davante Adams and Amari Cooper off the market, there are fewer options available.
Despite the injuries and challenges, the Chiefs are somehow still finding ways to make it work. While these setbacks could sink most teams, Kansas City is heading into their Super Bowl LVIII rematch with San Francisco with an undefeated record.
“When you’ve got two great teams that face off in a Super Bowl and other big games, there’s always going to be some history,” Mahomes explained. “We’ve been able to win those games, but we know how good San Francisco is. We have a ton of respect for them, and we understand just one play could’ve changed everything in those matchups. So, we’re going in with the mindset that we’ve got to make those key plays when it matters most.”
One thing we’ve learned is that it’s never a good idea to doubt the Chiefs, even when the odds are stacked against them. We’ll see if Veach decides to make any moves before the trade deadline.