The Kansas City Chiefs are going back to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in five years, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows for the franchise. Wide receiver Kadarius Toney has not played since Week 16’s win over the New England Patriots, and the former first-round pick took to Instagram to vocally express his frustrations (warning: graphic language).
During the Instagram Live session, Kadarius Toney said that he is not hurt, which directly goes against what the team is saying. The official injury report states that Toney missed the AFC Championship Game due to a hip injury and the birth of his daughter. Per the team’s report, he missed the Wild Card and Divisional Rounds with both hip and ankle injuries.
If Kadarius Toney is telling the truth on Instagram, then that means the team has effectively benched him while using injuries as a way to save face. Toney clearly doesn’t agree with being benched or being declared injured, and there is a serious possibility he has played his last snap with Patrick Mahomes.
Kadarius Toney Unloads On Chiefs On Instagram Live, Says He’s Not Hurt
Even before the latest Instagram drama, 2023 has been a year to forget for Kadarius Toney. After helping win the Super Bowl as a trade deadline acquisition, Toney had a chance to step up and be the top receiver for Patrick Mahomes. Instead, the former first-round pick has looked like one of the worst players in the league, dropping passes left and right while struggling to stay on the field.
The Chiefs are probably done with Toney, but he should earn another chance somewhere else. Despite the mental goofs, Toney remains one of the most elusive athletes in the open field. After Kansas City cuts him, somebody is going to try and fix him, and these five teams make the most sense.
Possible New Teams
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have too many holes on offense to possibly fill in one offseason. While quarterback is the biggest need, the team desperately needs to find someone capable of getting open and doing something with the ball. The Patriots have always prioritized guys who excel at picking up yards after the catch, and that’s not likely to change with Jerod Mayo running the show. Additionally, New England loves buying low on high-level talent, which makes Kadarius Toney an obvious fit. Maybe he doesn’t work out, but he’s worth a shot.
Los Angeles Chargers
Could the Kadarius Toney Instagram drama lead him to a divisional rival? It’s certainly possible, especially considering the state of the Los Angeles Chargers wide receivers. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams both carry insane cap hits and are two of the most likely wide receiver cap casualties in the league. With Quentin Johnston looking like a bust, Los Angeles will need another receiver if one or both players depart. Toney is anything but a safe bet, but he’s a high-reward player who probably won’t command much more than the league minimum.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers need to support Bryce Young, but they do not have a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. This team needs at least two more starting receivers, and they’ll have to get them all through free agency. While the team could (and should) splurge on a top-dollar free agent like Michael Pittman, they could still take a flier on a low-risk option like Kadarius Toney. If it works out, then Bryce Young has a reliable third option behind Pittman and Adam Thielen, and if it doesn’t, then it’s hard to imagine Toney being worse than Terrace Marshall.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are well over the 2024 salary cap, and while they always find a way to make the money work, they’ll probably have to be a little frugal in free agency. The Saints are stuck with Derek Carr for at least one more season, which means they need to build around him. Carr is exactly as good as his supporting cast, which means this team needs another receiver or two if they want to make a serious playoff push. Chris Olave is great, but Michael Thomas is a shell of his former self. Even after his Instagram tirade, Kadarius Toney would still be the third-best receiver on this depth chart.
Tennessee Titans
Will Levis is going to get at least one more year to prove himself as a franchise quarterback. However, it’s going to be hard for him – or anyone, for that matter – to succeed in this environment. DeAndre Hopkins isn’t getting younger, and there isn’t a single other building block on the offensive side of the ball. Nobody should ever expect Kadarius Toney to start living up to his first-round draft capital, but he can’t be much worse than what the Titans currently have. While he certainly shouldn’t be the only major free agent signing, he can be a nice home run hitter as a situational player.
Main Photo: Eric Canha – USA Today Sports
