Chiefs rumors: 3 veterans who could be cut after 2023 NFL Draft

Chiefs rumors: One injury-prone ex-Giants receiver is enough, Richie James has to go

Former Giants receiver Richie James was the first wideout the Chiefs signed in free agency, but first doesn’t mean squat. James’ one-year deal is structured such that Kansas City can part ways with the 27-year-old without getting bogged down by the dead money, and he’ll go up against some talented draft picks and UDFAs this offseason.

Kansas City took SMU product Rashee Rice in the second round of the draft, who was arguably hailed as a pretty solid pick-up. Rice serves as immediate depth behind a tentative starting trio of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, and Skyy Moore, and the Chiefs also have Justin Watson to make a dent in the passing game on occasion.

Where does James fit in? He doesn’t, really.

While James provided valuable depth to the Giants in 2022, putting up 569 yards and four touchdowns in his first year with the franchise, his role could easily be replaced by anyone on the backend of the Chiefs’ depth chart who just mildly overachieves this preseason.

Justyn Ross, Ty Fryfogle, Cornell Powell, John Ross, Ihmir Smith-Marsette — any of those guys could heavily impress in training camp and leapfrog James in the depth chart.

Of course, James has starting experience and a few more years under his belt having spent three years on the 49ers, yet we wouldn’t be so hasty to buy his red-and-white jersey in 2023. And call us delusional, but we’re keeping the DeAndre Hopkins dream alive this offseason.