The Kansas City Chiefs may replace Rashee Rice with Giants trade candidate wide receiver, Jalin Hyatt. As of this posting, Rice is seeking a second opinion as he may be out for the entire 2024 campaign which will be a big blow to the defending Super Bowl champions. According to a report, there is speculation that Chiefs could become buyers this upcoming trade deadline next month and Hyatt might be on their wish list. However, Hyatt has been in numerous reports already that he would be a speedy replacement for Marquise Brown who is also out for the year.
Patrick Mahomes is looking to replenish the passing game since guys like Travis Kelce are off to a slow start and Xavier Worthy is just a rookie. There’s been speculation that Darius Slayton would be the better immediate option at WR1 but that all depends on how much the Giants are willing to sell. However, Slayton is still making plays for the team so they probably don’t want to trade for him unless they get something in return for a hefty price. The Chiefs may be better off trading for Hyatt who hasn’t seen the field after only receiving one target.
Hyatt denied speculation that he wants a trade but he probably won’t turn down the chance to play for a championship team if the opportunity is there. However, there was one summer where he mentioned if the Giants won’t use him, they should trade him. The frustration is already there and this might be his legitimate shot to prove his skillset for a team that still has one of the best offenses in the league despite the injuries.
Chiefs May Replace Rashee Rice With Giants Trade Candidate Jalin Hyatt
Does Depth Matter?
Wide receiver is always a thing with any NFL team that wants to use receivers in rotation to make an immediate impact. The Chiefs may have Justin Watson, Skyy Moore, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman on the reserve. Many of them are going to get starting looks but it doesn’t mean they will make a meaningful impact. This is why they could trade for a receiver who’s a healthy scratch and always has plenty of potential on his resume to see what he could do as a starter.
Nobody loves a shifty receiver like Mahomes who could separate in the passing game. It makes sense for the Chiefs to bring in a speedster like Hyatt since they already lost that from Rice and Brown. They don’t depend on big-bodied receivers so Hyatt’s athleticism and size make him a fit for Kansas City.
Other Potential Trade Destinations
New Orleans Saints
The Saints were off to an exploding start but the team is crumbling after suffering two disappointing losses against Philadelphia and Atlanta. Derek Carr is still playing above-average enough to keep the team within a seven-point differential but they need someone to make this offense explosive. No one has seen what Hyatt could do but the Saints are desperate for a third option behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.
The Saints understand they can’t do it alone and as much as they want to depend on the run, teams win ball games in the passing attack. Hyatt could carve a role for himself to make those crucial plays to keep moving the sticks.
Carolina Panthers
As much as Diontae Johnson has been a favorite in trade rumors, the Panthers can’t afford to unload their receivers. Carolina may not be a postseason contender but the team is still looking to keep a pair of wideouts to fight to stay on the roster for next year. However, they don’t see Johnson in their future so it might be time for them to trade for someone like Hyatt to become a homegrown receiver in Carolina’s offense. Adam Thielen is on the IR already and getting older so the trade would make sense no matter what the Panthers end up doing with Bryce Young.
Baltimore Ravens
After a dominating showing against Buffalo, the Ravens could still use an extra receiver to keep on their back end. There’s no such thing as too many receivers and Baltimore could acquire Hyatt for cheap. He has the same Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor so this trade would make sense since he may be able to find his chemistry and attention with the Ravens.
