The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly on the lookout for a wide receiver ahead of the 2026 NFL trade deadline, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
While we're not sure exactly who the Chiefs would try to add to help quarterback Patrick Mahomes elevate the passing game, there are some promising candidates available who could help out the Super Bowl contenders.
Who might the Chiefs be able to swing for ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline? Well, we've identified a few possibilities who might be had in a trade. One of them even played for the Chiefs in the past.
Let's run through these possible trade candidates and talk about why Kansas City might be interested.
WR Brian Thomas Jr.
The Jacksonville Jaguars don't play Thomas much these days, which doesn't suggest he's long for Duval.
His outstanding 2024 rookie season (1,282 yards, 10 touchdowns) hints that there's a better player in there somewhere. Could that player be unlocked by the Chiefs and Mahomes? It's an intriguing fit to be sure, albeit a costly one.
WR Keenan Allen
Allen is the kind of reliable veteran who is still producing with a failing team in the Indianapolis Colts (258 yards, 1 touchdown). While he wouldn't solve all of Kansas City's passing woes, he would give Mahomes an added security blanket in the intermediate passing game and in the red zone. That counts for something, especially in January.
WR Josh Downs
If the Chiefs want a bigger splash from Indianapolis, the team could move a higher draft pick to add Downs. At 25, he's a young player with oodles of potential still left to unlock and could position himself as one of the Chiefs' top receivers for the years to come. With 307 yards so far this season, he's still producing in a less-than-ideal offense.
WR Hollywood Brown
The Chiefs could reunite with Brown, who played for the franchise in 2024 and 2025. He hauled in 587 yards and five touchdowns last season with Kansas City. He's not even close to that with the Philadelphia Eagles so far this season (two catches for 30 yards). If the Cheifs want a reunion, Brown would be a really smart addition right now.
WR Calvin Ridley
Ridley is just two seasons removed from a 1,000-plus yard campaign with the Titans, but he's fallen out of favor in the Tennessee rotation. While his contract might prove tough to trade, the Chiefs could be a perfect rebounding spot for him. He's only got 81 yards on five receptions this season, but that number could go up in Kansas City.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 5 Chiefs wide receiver trade candidates before 2026 NFL deadline
