Chiefs trade rumors:Best Rashee Rice replacements
1. Amari Cooper, Browns
Cooper, 30, has been already traded twice, once from the Raiders to the Cowboys and then the Cowboys to the Browns. He also has struggled with drops and some passing game dysfunction with Deshaun Watson. Cooper can clean up plenty for Mahomes, as Copper is a reliable route-runner, which could play off Worthy and Kelce.
2. DeAndre Hopkins, Titans
Hopkins, 32, is now a complementary receiver but he has the slot versatility the Chiefs could use with Rice out. Hopkins has the size needed to play inside and fill the Rice role over the middle, but with a lot more experience. Tennessee is going nowhere and Hopkins can land on a team to try to get a ring late in his career.
3. Christian Kirk, Jaguars
Kirk is another slot who makes sense with Jacksonville sitting at 0-4. Kirk is expendable with rookie first-rounder Brian Thomas Jr. looking like he has a bright future ahead of him. Kirk knows how to get open and has the same big burst after-the-catch ability as Rice.
4. Darius Slayton, Giants
The Giants have Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt to help rookie first-rounder Malk Nabers. Slayton is an experienced target who can cross over well into Reid’s offense after working with former Chiefs assistant Mike Kafka in New York.
5. Kyle Pitts, Falcons
The Falcons haven’t worked Pitts into a new dynamic passing offense with Kirk Cousins, as wide receivers Drake London, Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud are being favored out of 11 personnel looks. Pitts has struggled a bit to separate from traditional tight end and hasn’t been used consistently well, period, in Atlanta. Pitts has appeal as a big slot type for Mahomes and, as a bonus, the 23-year-old can be groomed as Kelce’s heir apparent.
