Chiefs to cut inconsistent wide receiver, punting on their 2022 trade reclamation project

Kadarius Toney’s time with the Kansas City Chiefs has finally come to an end.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Chiefs have waived Toney. He spent just two NFL seasons in Kansas City after the team acquired him in a trade from the New York Giants ahead of the deadline in 2022. He was the ultimate reclamation project after injuries held him to just 12 games played, 41 receptions, and 420 receiving yards with the Giants over 1.5 seasons.

The former first-round draft pick out of the University of Florida gave the Chiefs the slight boost they needed to stabilize the wide receiver room down the stretch in 2022  heading into the playoffs. Toney appeared in nine regular-season games, recording 16 catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns, all while battling a nagging hamstring injury. He'd go on to secure a touchdown reception and a record-setting 65-yard punt return in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVII.

Toney struggled the following season after missing the entirety of training camp due to an injury. The team managed to get him back on the field for Week 1 against the Detroit Lions, but the lack of preparation he’d had all offseason was palpable. He’d finish the 2023 NFL season with 29 receptions for 169 yards and one touchdown. He dealt with injuries again during the season, but he claimed in a viral rant on Instagram that the team was lying about his injury status . He was also a healthy scratch for Super Bowl LVIII after playing the role of Deebo Samuel on the scout team.

This offseason they gave him every opportunity to rise to the occasion and earn a spot on the team. They even carved out a unique hybridized role for him , having him play both running back and receiver. Injuries would again stifle his ability to build consistency during training camp, and at the end of the day, the Chiefs couldn't wait any longer for him to develop as they'd hoped. If Toney is claimed by another team, they'll assume his $2.53 million salary for the 2024 NFL season. Otherwise, the Chiefs will eat that dead money.

The Chiefs still won the Kadarius Toney trade, even if it didn't go the way they'd hoped

At one point the Chiefs were championing Toney as a potential WR1 on their football team. That didn't come to fruition, but Toney's impact on the team was hardly the negative it is made out to be. If he had to, Brett Veach would make the Kadarius Toney trade 10 times over again.

Sure, he'll be remembered for drops in Week 1 against the Lions . He'll be remembered for the offsides play that eliminated what would have been an iconic play between Toney and Travis Kelce against the Bills in Week 14 . While the issues in 2023 overshadow the good, the Chiefs don't get to or win the Super Bowl without Toney's contributions down the stretch in 2022. His performance against the Jaguars in Week 10 of 2022, for instance, helped the Chiefs get another win against an AFC opponent. He'd have another strong game against the Jaguars in the first round of the playoffs as well. Then, of course, the aforementioned Super Bowl punt return and touchdown reception.

The decision to cut Toney might seem like a failure, but the trade was still justified and overall a win for the Chiefs. When you measure the trade against what the Giants did with the pick the team sent for Toney , it's certainly a win. The 25-year-old didn't turn into a dynamic WR1 as the team hoped he might, but he also wasn't the burden that some make him out to be on the back-to-back Super Bowl champions. He'll always have a place in team history as a two-time world champion.

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