The Kansas City Chiefs may be circling a familiar kind of fix as the NFL trade deadline approaches: a proven wideout who can change the shape of the passing game. Brandon Aiyuk has emerged as a possible answer, with Kansas City reportedly weighing outside help after its aerial attack has stalled in recent weeks.
The need is obvious. The Chiefs opened the year with Kenneth Walker III helping create easier throws, but that rhythm has faded.
Tyquan Thornton’s injury has only made the receiver group thinner, and the team has also been connected to free agent Tyreek Hill as he works his way back from a major knee injury. Still, NFL analyst Wajih AlBaroudi made the case that Aiyuk should be the name Kansas City pursues.
Aiyuk is pushing to return after about 25 months away while recovering from a serious knee injury. He recently visited the San Francisco 49ers facility with his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and said he believes he is ready to play again.
“I’m feeling great, feeling healthy,” Aiyuk said. “It was a long recovery process, a long rehab process, but I’m back to 100% and looking to get reinstated to the National Football League.”
San Francisco has already terminated Aiyuk’s contract and removed the remaining $27 million in guarantees after he stopped attending his knee rehabilitation check-ups. The 49ers are still trying to recover $13 million in bonus money they previously paid him, and once that issue is settled, the expectation is that Aiyuk will be released.
That could open the door for Kansas City to add a veteran receiver without surrendering draft picks.
AlBaroudi specifically pointed to the Chiefs as a fit, arguing they need a player with Aiyuk’s kind of field-stretching ability. “The Chiefs have needed a receiver with Aiyuk’s ability ever since Tyreek Hill walked out the door, particularly after Tyquan Thornton went down after a promising start this season,” AlBaroudi wrote.
He also tied the fit to the state of the offense right now. “Defenses are beginning to contain Kenneth Walker III with the Kansas City passing offense not exactly keeping them honest, so Aiyuk could remedy that issue.”
There is still another layer to the situation. ESPN’s Nick Wagoner reported that the 49ers could continue to explore a trade before Tuesday’s deadline. If no deal materializes, though, San Francisco is expected to release him.
Rosenhaus said his client is ready now. “Fortunately, he’s feeling good physically.
He’s healthy. He’s ready to get back to work,” Rosenhaus said.
For the Chiefs, Aiyuk is now another name in the mix as they search for answers at wide receiver.
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