Chiefs next trade should be obvious, and it’s not for a wide receiver
By Mark Powell
The Kansas City Chiefs next trade target has nothing to do with Patrick Mahomes and the offense. Instead, they should call the Bears about Robert Quinn.
Quinn is an elite pass-rusher from the outside linebacker position. Just last season, he had 18.5 sacks for the Chicago Bears.
Yet, his contract suggests he could be a viable trade candidate, especially for a contender lacking the necessary tools at OLB. Nick Bolton and Willie Gay are fine, but imagine pairing Quinn with the likes of Frank Clark and Chris Jones on the outside. That could be deadly, if Brett Veach can pull this off.
What Kansas City has in pass rushers, they lack in actual pass coverage. That’s what makes loading up on QB pressures all the more important. Without the likes of Tyrann Mathieu on the back end, KC could be left in a vulnerable position this year.
Chiefs trade candidate: Robert Quinn
Quinn didn’t show up to Bears mandatory minicamp and immediately became one of the more sought-after trade candidates in the NFL.
FanSided’s Matt Verderame makes several valid points in his tweet above, namely that Quinn would fill a massive need at a relatively low price. Given the number of picks the Chiefs have at their disposal, it would be a shame if they didn’t at least pursue a deal.
Chicago general manager Ryan Poles also has a history with Kansas City. He’s familiar with how they do business, as he made his way up in the organization ever since 2009, when he was hired as a scout. By the time Poles got his first GM job in Chicago, he was already executive director of player personnel in KC.
Pass defense was a major issue with the Chiefs last season. Acquiring a player of Quinn’s caliber at a discount is a must, assuming the Bears are willing to listen.