The Kansas City Chiefs have already missed out on two potential wide receiver trades — Amari Cooper and Davante Adams. While the latter was always a long shot, KC’s options for veteran wide receivers are shrinking, with only a few possible sellers left around the league.
One team to watch could be the 1-5 Carolina Panthers, who have a former Pro Bowl receiver playing out the final year of his contract.
“The Chiefs don’t need more vertical route runners and field stretchers,” noted Arrowhead Pride’s lead analyst Ron Kopp Jr. on October 15. “KC needs a man-coverage beater who can win short to intermediate [routes].”
Kopp believes this makes former Pittsburgh Steelers star and current Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson the best remaining trade candidate for the Chiefs. He even suggested that it’s essentially “him or bust” for Kansas City ahead of the 2024 trade deadline.
Since entering the league in 2019, Johnson has posted only one 1,000-yard season but is on pace for about 964 receiving yards in 2024. If he stays healthy and benefits from improved quarterback play with Patrick Mahomes, he might hit the 1,000-yard mark for the second time in his career.
NFL Insider and Analyst Discuss Diontae Johnson as Chiefs Target
Kopp isn’t the only one linking Johnson to Kansas City ahead of Week 7. ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler mentioned the Panthers wideout in an October 16 article, calling him a good fit for the Chiefs. However, Fowler pointed out that Johnson’s $7 million base salary and the Panthers’ reluctance to trade him could complicate things.
Fowler also listed DeAndre Hopkins and Marquez Valdes-Scantling as other options for Kansas City but noted that “the receiver-depleted Chiefs haven’t been overly aggressive on the market to this point.”
“As was told to me, coach Andy Reid values receivers who either have played in his system or know it well,” Fowler explained. “Finding a plug-and-play situation isn’t always clear cut.”
Reid seemed to express similar sentiments in a media session on Monday, October 14.
Similarly, ESPN analyst Matt Miller named Johnson among his top three trade candidates for the Chiefs on October 15. Like Kopp and Fowler, Miller also identified Hopkins as a potential target. His third option was New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams, who might become available now that the Jets have added Adams.
Chiefs Fans Rally Around Diontae Johnson Trade on Social Media
The buzz around a potential Johnson trade is largely positive among Chiefs fans on social media.
“I wouldn’t mind if the Chiefs sign MVS [Valdes-Scantling] as long as that’s not the only move,” wrote Arrowhead Pride’s Mark Gunnels. “Still would like Brett Veach to trade for Diontae Johnson, Darius Slayton, or Christian Kirk.”
Popular fan account How Bout Those Chiefs echoed this on October 15, saying: “Diontae Johnson or Darius Slayton please, Veach.”
Another fan post emphasized the importance of making the trade, saying, “The more I think about it, I think the Chiefs should do whatever it takes to land Diontae Johnson, even if it’s an overpay in draft capital, and they should also offer him an extension. He fills several short- and long-term needs.”
One more fan wrote: “Chiefs need to do whatever it takes to get Diontae Johnson. Prototypical Andy Reid WR.”
