Chiefs Bet on Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid in Tyreek Hill Trade
By Reed Wallach
The Kansas City Chiefs joined the wild NFL offseason on Wednesday, but what does it signal about their future?
The Chiefs moved star wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins for five draft picks spanning the next two NFL Drafts, keeping their cap sheet somewhat in check after news broke soon after that Hill would sign a record contract for a wide receiver.
Chiefs are trading six-time Pro-Bowl WR Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins for five draft picks: a 2022 1st-round pick (No. 29), a 2nd-round pick (No. 50) and a 4th-round pick, as well as 4th- and 6th-round picks in the 2023 draft, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 23, 2022
Dolphins are giving their new WR Tyreek Hill a 4-year, $120 million extension, including $72.2 million guaranteed, per @DrewJRosenhaus. pic.twitter.com/rkSWmAOOMt
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 23, 2022
Hill and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes became one of the most lethal duos in all of football the last several years, but KC opted to allocate their money elsewhere despite four straight AFC Championship appearances. What is the reasoning behind this move? Let's dive in.
Chiefs Bet on Patrick Mahomes
First and foremost, the betting market still believes in Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid. The Chiefs are the third choice to win the Super Bowl at WynnBET Sportsbook (+650), and Mahomes is the second choice to win his second MVP award (+700).
So, the betting market isn't reacting all that much that the Chiefs will be without their speedy receiver, should we? Well, no.
KC is betting on the talent that is Mahomes and the high octane offensive scheme Reid has put in place.
The NFL salary cap works in a certain way where the team needs to invest in certain resources with skill position players typically falling by the wayside. The Chiefs have seemingly decided to build the 2022 roster around Mahomes, giving him talented, but cheaper weapons to pass to.
Kansas City Can Find Wide Receiver Help
KC is also now is equipped with two first rounders in this year's draft, as well as more picks than any team in the league, to surround Mahomes with young talent. This is also one of the deepest wide receiver draft classes in NFL history, so a replacement for Hill can come by committee this season.
Following the trade of Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs now have 12 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. No team has more.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 24, 2022
They own two picks in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th round.
A major opportunity to replenish the roster in a hurry, especially by addressing their need at WR.
Further, KC moved quickly to pick up Marquez Valdes-Scantling as a vertical threat, while Travis Kelce remains arguably the most talented tight ends in the league.
Former Packers’ WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling is signing a three-year, $30 million deal worth up to $36 million with the Chiefs, per source. This is called living right: Valdes-Scantling goes from the NFL’s reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers to the NFL’s former MVP Patrick Mahomes.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 24, 2022
Kansas City decided to invest in the rest of the team, knowing that by the time his contract is up Hill will be a step slower and into his mid-30's.
Ultimately, the team is going to go as far as Mahomes takes them, and the team needs to focus on the offensive and defensive line to do that after those units let them down in the AFC Championship against the Cincinnati Bengals. There are other resources to find wide receivers and Mahomes will find a new speedster by the time training camp starts, whether it is through the NFL Draft or free agency. And the Chiefs are betting on that.
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