Chiefs Trade Proposals Add 'Instant-Impact' WR, RB for Draft Picks

Were the Chiefs really planning on doing much with their 2025 late-round draft picks? Hopefully not, if ESPN NFL insider Bill Barnwell has his way. Barnwell is foreseeing a busy three weeks ahead for the defending champs, who would trade for two big-name players as part of, "12 deals we want to see at the NFL trade deadline."

Now, that's not saying we will see those deals, but Barnwell does provide some logic, and in what is expected to be busy trade period--and already has, really, with four trades this week--he highlights two areas of need for the Chiefs.

The first, obviously, is wide receiver, where the Chiefs have not been aggressive--yet--in making an addition to replace Rashee Rice, who is likely to miss the season with a knee injury.

The second is somewhat less obvious, but still an area of need: running back.

The Chiefs are currently just 16th in rushing offense with 589 yards, having lost starter Isiah Pacheco two games into the year. Patrick Mahomes has 1,184 yards passing, but only 436 of those have gone to wide receivers other than Rice.

Barnwell has the Chiefs managing to come away with a pair of players who have six Pro Bowl appearances among them, receiver DeAndre Hopkins of the Titans and running back Miles Sanders of the Panthers.

Here's how the deal WR is outlined :

Titans get: 2025 fifth-round pick

Chiefs get: WR DeAndre Hopkins

The cost is even less for Sanders.

Panthers get: 2025 sixth-round pick (conditional)

Chiefs get: RB Miles Sanders , 2025 seventh-round pick (conditional)

Both Hopkins (who is 32) and Sanders (27) are veterans whose best years are behind them, but who would come with ample learned experience, the kind of players that suit the Chiefs' approach. It helps that each is playing for a team that is eager to dismantle and build for the future.

Hopkins has just 14 catches for 175 yards this year in Tennessee. Sanders has only 98 yards on 30 carries through six games.

As Barnwell wrote, both players are big names who did not attract much attention when they were free agents. But their histories and remaining talent make them ideal in Kansas City.

"This might not feel like a massive return for a veteran wideout with Hopkins' history, but he didn't have a huge free agent market two offseasons ago, is older now, is battling a knee issue and is owed meaningful money over the remainder of the year," Barnwell wrote. "He wouldn't have a huge market, but the Chiefs feel like the correct fit and would benefit from his strengths."

Related: Chiefs Trade Proposal Would Add Projected $99 Million Playmaker to Help Patrick Mahomes