The Kansas City Chiefs are addressing perhaps their most glaring roster issue.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Chiefs have acquired LB/DE Cameron Thomas from the Arizona Cardinals in trade. Kansas City will send Arizona a seventh-round draft pick for Thomas, who was a third-round draft pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of San Diego State University.
Thomas is about as prototypical a Steve Spagnuolo defensive end as you could get, listed at 6-foot-4 and 276 pounds. He has inside/outside versatility and some experience under his belt with 32 games played and three starts during his NFL career. During that span, Thomas has amassed 40 total tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, 35 pressures, two passes batted, a fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown.
Equity Sports' Chris Cabbott, who also happens to represent Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, facilitated the trade according to Rapoport.
Why are the Chiefs trading for Cam Thomas?
It was increasingly apparent throughout the preseason that the Chiefs had a depth issue at the defensive end position. With Charles Omenihu on the physically unable to perform list with an ACL injury, BJ Thompson on the non-football injury list , and Felix Anudike-Uzomah taking a slower development path than one might hope, the Chiefs were left with few options behind George Karlaftis and Mike Danna. Thomas provides them with a young, high-upside player, who is a much better scheme fit in Kansas City than he ever was in Arizona. He'll be able to reduce inside for Steve Spagnuolo's patented NASCAR packages. He's also quite affordable when you look at his contract over the final two years of his deal.
This is bad news for players like Truman Jones and Malik Herring, who had a shot at the 53-man roster had the Chiefs been unable to acquire Thomas. It also doesn't bode well for the outlook for Thompson returning to the lineup anytime soon. Expect Thomas to be a bit of a placeholder for Omenihu as he recovers from his knee injury and aims to make a return at the midseason mark.
Related: Chiefs Injury Report: Two players sit out of practice as focus begins to shift toward Week 1 vs. Ravens
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