After the Bills exposed every flaw in Week 9, the Chiefs’ real problem before the trade deadline isn’t what you think.QQ
Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach has a decision to make with the 2025 NFL trade deadline a day away. Will he make any moves to improve the team, or will he stand pat at the deadline and roll with the players they have?
The team doesn’t have a lot of draft capital in 2026, and it has already made some moves with its late-round picks in 2027. With the team’s record at 5-4, it could be in line for some higher 2026 NFL Draft picks for the first time in a while.
Will the Chiefs make a move ahead of the trade deadline? They have until Nov. 4at 4:00 p.m. ET to decide. If they do choose to make a move, their needs are quite clear.
The Chiefs absolutely need defensive line help, and a running back wouldn’t hurt
Running back help has been on the mind of Chiefs fans since the 2025 NFL draft, and the recent knee injury to RB Isiah Pacheco might exacerbate the need. The news that he may only miss Week 9 in Buffalo and be back after the bye week might dissuade Kansas City from investing there at the trade deadline.
I suspect there’s a belief in the building that the lack of run-game success against the Bills had more to do with playing from behind than with the Chiefs’ personnel.
If they do make a move, they’ll prefer a complete back who can be effective in both the running and passing games. Right now, the team has multiple backs who are good at one or two things, but no one back who is well-rounded.
Potential trade deadline RB targets for the Kansas City Chiefs
- New York Jets RB Breece Hall
- Cleveland Browns RB Jerome Ford
- Miami Dolphins RB DeVon Achane
- Miami Dolphins RB Jaylen Wright
- Washington Commanders RB Jeremy McNichols
- Tennessee Titans RB Tony Pollard
As for the defensive line, Mike Pennel’s return will certainly help in the run game, even if the Week 9 loss doesn’t fully reflect it. They still need some serious help getting after the quarterback. The Chiefs had 12 total pressures and three sacks against the Bills in Week 9, but it was painfully apparent that they weren’t getting consistent pressure against Josh Allen when he dropped back to pass.
Chris Jones spoke about the need to win one-on-one matchups after Sunday’s loss. Right now, they don’t have the personnel to do that consistently.
One D-Line option is already off the table for the Chiefs
Early Monday morning, the Philadelphia Eagles acquired EDGE Jaelan Phillips from the Miami Dolphins for a third-round draft pick. That’s a little rich for Kansas City, but Philly had multiple third-round picks. He reunites with Eagles DC Vic Fangio, who was in Miami before joining the Eagles.
Phillips may have legitimately been the best pass-rushing edge option on the market, with 32 pressures and three sacks on the year. That leaves the Chiefs with few impact players potentially available at the deadline.
Potential trade deadline D-Line targets for the Kansas City Chiefs
- New York Jets DT Quinnen Williams
- Washington Commanders DT DaRon Payne
- Cleveland Browns DT Maliek Collins
- Arizona Cardinals DL Calais Campbell
- Miami Dolphins EDGE Bradley Chubb
- Titans EDGE Dre’Mont Jones
- Titans EDGE Jihad Ward
- Titans EDGE Arden Key
Whether the team will make a move remains to be seen, but it’s hard to imagine any move having the substantial impact the team truly needs. They’ll be hard-pressed to find a Melvin Ingram-type player, and they might be a little gun-shy after the failures with Josh Uche from a season ago.
If I had to bet on any of these players listed above, it’d be the 39-year-old Campbell, who has worked with Chiefs DL coach Joe Cullen before. It wouldn’t be a flashy move, but it’d add a ring-chasing veteran to the mix.
