Confirmed: Chiefs HC Pushed to Call Struggling Rival About Trade for Experience Star WR

The Kansas City Chiefs are in need of a reliable wide receiver after losing Rashee Rice and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown for the remainder of the regular season. One intriguing option could emerge depending on how the Cincinnati Bengals fare in the coming weeks, particularly in their Week 6 matchup against the New York Giants.

The Bengals, currently 1-4, are on the brink of losing their playoff hopes if they fall to 1-5. This dire situation could push Cincinnati into making tough decisions about key players, including star wide receiver Tee Higgins, who is playing on the franchise tag this season. Higgins is likely to test free agency next March, meaning the Bengals could lose him without getting any return if they don’t make the playoffs.

Given Kansas City’s current wide receiver needs, the Chiefs might consider targeting Higgins as a trade option if Cincinnati’s season slips further. The Chiefs’ passing game would get a significant boost from a proven playmaker like Higgins, and Cincinnati could potentially get value in return rather than risking losing him for nothing. Of course, much will depend on the Bengals’ performance in Week 6 and their outlook moving forward.

Bleacher Report analyst Kristopher Knox added fuel to the Tee Higgins trade speculation on his October 9 “trade block big board.” While acknowledging that Higgins’ potential departure hinges on Cincinnati’s immediate future, Knox placed the star receiver on the list, noting the importance of the Bengals’ upcoming games against the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns.

Knox highlighted that if Cincinnati manages to win both games and gets back to .500 by the trade deadline, Higgins is unlikely to be moved. However, if the Bengals continue to falter and lose more ground in the standings, Higgins could become a logical trade target, especially since he’s set to hit free agency in the spring. In such a scenario, the Bengals might consider moving Higgins to get value in return, as his long-term future with the team remains uncertain. This puts the wideout firmly on the radar for receiver-needy teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, who are currently short on weapons.

Kristopher Knox concluded his analysis by emphasizing Tee Higgins’ value, describing him as a “high-end No. 2 receiver” who could command a solid return, even in a potentially crowded trade market for wide receivers. Knox identified the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys as the most “logical suitors” for Higgins should the Bengals decide to make him available before the trade deadline.

Both teams have clear needs at wide receiver, with the Chiefs missing key players like Rashee Rice and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, and the Cowboys looking for additional firepower to support CeeDee Lamb. Higgins would be a valuable addition to either offense, offering a proven playmaker with size and versatility. If the Bengals’ season continues to slide, a trade could be beneficial for all parties involved, allowing the Bengals to recoup value while bolstering the Chiefs’ or Cowboys’ receiving corps.

Would the Bengals Ever Seriously Consider Trading Tee Higgins to the Chiefs in the Midst of a Potential Three-Peat?

The idea of the Kansas City Chiefs trading for Tee Higgins seems enticing for Chiefs fans, head coach Andy Reid, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, especially considering their current injuries at wide receiver. However, the biggest hurdle in making this trade a reality is the Bengals’ potential reluctance to trade a high-caliber player to one of their most direct AFC rivals.

While Kansas City could certainly make a pitch for Higgins, the Bengals would likely have to weigh the long-term implications of such a deal. Sending a star player like Higgins to a team that has been a consistent playoff contender and rival, especially when both teams have met in high-stakes games in recent seasons, might feel counterintuitive.

The only way Cincinnati might entertain such a trade would be if the Chiefs’ offer far surpasses what other teams are willing to provide. In this scenario, the Bengals could prioritize business over rivalry. Trading Higgins for a substantial return would give Cincinnati a chance to retool for the future, particularly if the Bengals feel their playoff hopes for this season are fading. Strengthening their draft capital, even at the cost of helping a competitor in the short term, could position them for success down the line.

In this sense, trading Higgins to Kansas City would serve two purposes for the Bengals: weakening the Chiefs’ future by taking valuable draft assets and using those resources to rebuild and eventually surpass them. It would be a classic “business-first” decision if the playoffs are out of reach for Cincinnati this season.

Veteran WRs DeAndre Hopkins & Amari Cooper Continue to Be Listed as Trade Candidates for Chiefs

In addition to Tee Higgins, Kristopher Knox also linked the Kansas City Chiefs to veteran wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins of the Tennessee Titans and Amari Cooper of the Cleveland Browns, two names that Chiefs fans have seen floated in trade rumors before.

Knox pointed to Kansas City’s past interest in Hopkins as evidence of a potential fit, noting that ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on October 5 that the Chiefs “badly” wanted to sign Hopkins during the 2023 offseason but couldn’t finalize a deal. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport also mentioned Hopkins as an “interesting name to watch” for the Chiefs on September 30, indicating that the team’s interest might still be alive.

Amari Cooper has also been connected to the Chiefs in trade discussions. Reporters Charles Goldman (Kansas City) and Brandon Little (Cleveland) from A-to-Z Sports recently proposed a potential trade between the two franchises on October 9, further fueling speculation. Knox argued that Cooper would be an ideal target for Kansas City, as he’s been a proven No. 1 wide receiver at every stop in his career and could immediately elevate the Chiefs’ receiving corps. Additionally, his team-friendly contract would make him an attractive option, not only for the Chiefs but also for the Dallas Cowboys, a team that has been linked to a possible reunion with Cooper.

Whether it’s Higgins, Hopkins, or Cooper, the Chiefs are clearly in the market for a high-caliber receiver, and these veterans all offer different skill sets that could help Patrick Mahomes and the offense maintain their status as one of the NFL’s best. However, the cost of acquiring any of these players, especially in a trade, will ultimately determine whether Kansas City can pull the trigger before the deadline.