The Kansas City Chiefs have a few goals in mind to achieve for the remainder of training camp. First and foremost, they want to remain healthy as they head into the 2023 season as the defending Super Bowl champions. Secondly, they need to work out the contract dispute currently going on with star defensive tackle Chris Jones.
Jones is seeking a contract that resets the market, as he wants to be paid as much, if not more, than Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams. Donald’s most recent three-year, $90 million extension is the benchmark for Jones and the Chiefs.
Should the Chiefs work out a deal and Jones reports to the team, it could make some of the defensive line depth they have compiled redundant. That is why defensive tackle Danny Shelton has been mentioned as a possible trade candidate ahead of the regular season.
Shelton signed with Kansas City last season but spent all but one game on their practice squad. The 2015 first-round pick never quite lived up to expectations, but has looked good this offseason. Getting any kind of draft capital for him, if Jones is back in the fold, would be good business.
Another player that could be on the trade block is running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The 2020 first-round pick had the fifth-year option on his rookie contract declined, which came as no surprise.
He saw his role shrink in 2022 as seventh-round rookie Isiah Pacheco took over the backfield with Jerick McKinnon. With both Pacheco and McKinnon back, there aren’t many reps available for Edwards-Helaire.
Last but not least, the Chiefs should consider shaking up the quarterback depth chart. With Chad Henne retiring this offseason, Kansas City needed a new backup behind Patrick Mahomes.
Blaine Gabbert, who has spent the last three seasons as Tom Brady’s backup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was signed. He has been sharing reps behind Mahomes with Shane Buechele, who has played well.
With Buechelle showing capable of being the backup, the Chiefs could trade Gabbert to another quarterback-needy team around the league. In an ideal world, Andy Reid won’t ever have to turn to his backup. Heading into Year 3 in Kansas City, Buechele could be ready to be the No. 2 behind Mahomes.
