Chiefs unsurprisingly part ways with former first-round WR

The Chiefs were able to win their second straight Super Bowl last season despite leading the NFL in dropped passes (44). They're not taking any chances in their quest to become the first team in NFL history to three-peat, however.

Kansas City is releasing former first-round wide receiver Kadarius Toney after the team had tried to get a trade done , per Dianna Russini of The Athletic.

It's not surprising the Chiefs decided to part ways with Toney after he struggled with dropping the ball in his second season with the team, but that isn't how things started.

When Kansas City traded a third- and sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft for Toney midway through the 2022 season, it seemed like a steal, as he played a large role in the run to Super Bowl LVII.

In 10 games (including the postseason), Toney reeled in 21 catches for 221 yards and three touchdowns while also recording the longest punt return in Super Bowl history (65 yards).

Things took a turn in 2023 as his play nosedived (27 catches for 169 yards and one touchdown in 13 games) and he was inactive throughout the playoffs with an injury designation, although Toney initially disputed he was hurt .

That played a large role in the Chiefs' decision to retool their wide receiver room this offseason, which included the additions of veteran Marquise Brown in free agency and first-round pick Xavier Worthy in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The fact that wide receivers Rashee Rice, Justin Watson, Skyy Moore and Mecole Hardman are returning also made the decision to move on from Toney easier.

As for Toney, he is still only 25 and will have a market elsewhere , according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.

The question now: Who is the next team willing to take a chance on the inconsistent wide receiver?