{"id":252064,"date":"2025-10-24T10:00:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T14:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=252064"},"modified":"2025-10-23T19:31:03","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T23:31:03","slug":"chiefs-trade-buzz-kansas-city-eyeing-edge-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/10\/24\/chiefs-trade-buzz-kansas-city-eyeing-edge-help\/","title":{"rendered":"Chiefs Trade Buzz: Kansas City Eyeing Edge Help"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Kansas City Chiefs may be back on track after a slow start<\/a>, but general manager Brett Veach could still have moves to make before the trade deadline. With mounting injury issues on the offensive and defensive lines, and a pass rush that hasn\u2019t met expectations, Kansas City is once again shaping up to be an active player in the trade market as the deadline approaches.<\/p>\n

Chiefs Trade Deadline Buzz<\/h2>\n

According to ESPN insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano<\/a>, the Chiefs are evaluating potential additions, particularly on the defensive side. While speculation has persisted about the team seeking another offensive weapon at the running back position, sources suggest the front office is more focused on strengthening the defensive line.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Omarr
Sep 21, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott (55) tackles New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) in the third quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Defense Takes Priority<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Graziano noted that the Chiefs are \u201calmost always active at the trade deadline,\u201d though this year\u2019s focus may not be on adding a wide receiver as in years past. Kansas City\u2019s offense has started to find rhythm<\/a> behind Patrick Mahomes, especially with Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Hollywood Brown emerging as the team\u2019s primary receiving trio.<\/p>\n

Instead, both insiders pointed to defense, and particularly the defensive front, as the most likely area of reinforcement. Graziano said that:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIf the Chiefs add at the deadline, I expect it to be on defense, maybe a veteran edge rusher, or possibly the offensive line.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Chiefs\u2019 interior depth has taken a hit, and the team is thin along the defensive line following the loss of rookie tackle Omarr Norman-Lott<\/a>, who tore his ACL in Sunday\u2019s win over the Raiders. Norman-Lott\u2019s injury, while overshadowed by the historic blowout, leaves Kansas City with another hole to patch. The 23-year-old appeared in five games this season, recording one sack and five tackles while playing roughly a quarter of the defensive snaps.<\/p>\n

Jaelan Phillips Among Names to Watch<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One intriguing name being floated in league circles is Jaelan Phillips, the talented edge rusher from the Miami Dolphins<\/a>. Phillips has struggled to stay healthy, but at 6-foot-5 with elite length and athleticism, he remains a high-upside player who could thrive in Steve Spagnuolo\u2019s aggressive scheme.<\/p>\n

\"dolphins
Main Photo: David Banks-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Over his five-year career, Phillips has notched 25 sacks and 117 pressures, showcasing the physical tools that once made him a first-round pick. If Miami decides to move him, Kansas City could be an ideal landing spot, particularly given Veach\u2019s track record of acquiring midseason defensive help, such as Melvin Ingram in 2021.<\/p>\n

Injuries Amplify Need for Reinforcements<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While the duo of offensive linemen Trey Smith and Jawaan Taylor exited the Raiders game and did not return, Fowler reported that their issues appear minor, and they are unlikely to miss time. The bigger question for the Chiefs\u2019 offensive line remains rookie left tackle Josh Simmons<\/a>, whose status has been uncertain for three weeks. The team has avoided commenting on his situation, which is reportedly related to a family matter.<\/p>\n

Defensively, however, the numbers speak for themselves<\/a>. Through six weeks, Kansas City\u2019s defensive linemen ranked 22nd in pass rush win rate and dead last (32nd) in run-stop win rate, per ESPN. Despite their trademark blitz-heavy approach, the Chiefs\u2019 inability to win up front without extra pressure has been one of the few weak spots on an otherwise championship-caliber roster.<\/p>\n

Brett Veach has never shied away from bold in-season moves to bolster the roster. Whether it\u2019s acquiring offensive playmakers or fortifying the trenches, the Chiefs\u2019 general manager has consistently been aggressive when a championship window is open. With Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid leading a team rounding into form, it\u2019s hard to imagine Veach standing pat, and the Chiefs are expected to stay active as the trade deadline draws near.<\/p>\n

Main Photo: [Jay Biggerstaff] – Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Kansas City Chiefs are exploring trade options to boost their defensive front, with Jaelan Phillips emerging as a potential target.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5658,"featured_media":252183,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[7811,7576,9527,33020],"class_list":["post-252064","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chiefs","tag-chiefs-featured","tag-jaelan-phillips","tag-nfl-trade-deadline","tag-omarr-norman-lott"],"modified_by":"Michael Zimmelman","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252064","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5658"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=252064"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252064\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":252184,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252064\/revisions\/252184"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/252183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=252064"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=252064"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=252064"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}