Chiefs Appear in Play for Star Wide Receiver Addition

The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to be in play for a star wide receiver this offseason.

The Chiefs need another target after losing Marquise Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason. Rashee Rice is currently in jail, so his future with Kansas City and the NFL is uncertain this summer.

Outside of Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton, the Chiefs have more questions than answers about their receiver depth. Travis Kelce’s return should help the passing game, though it’s fair to wonder if the Chiefs can ask the 36-year-old tight end to carry the offense like he did in his prime.

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There are still a few available star wide receivers in free agency and in the trade market this offseason. Former Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill was released by the Miami Dolphins in February. The New England Patriots released Stefon Diggs, their leading receiver from last year’s AFC championship team, for cap purposes.

Per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Chiefs wanted to trade for Philadelphia Eagles receiver A.J. Brown this offseason but “passed” on the deal. While the Chiefs' situation changed with Rice going to jail, Breer doesn’t think Kansas City will re-enter the chat for Brown.

Breer thinks the Chiefs have the best shot of landing Diggs, while Hill appears to be too much of a risk at this point in the offseason.

The uncertainty around Rice certainly would put the Chiefs in the market for insurance, and from that perspective, Stefon Diggs would make a ton of sense,” Breer wrote. “He's healthy, was productive last year, has played against the Chiefs' championship teams of the recent past, and could be a crafty plug-and-play piece for Patrick Mahomes & Co.”

“Hill, to me, would be a little bit of a long-range idea, just in that you'd want to see him coming out of that catastrophic injury, and know he's going to be able to at least be in the neighborhood of the kind of player he was. I don't know one way or the other if he will be.”

Diggs would make the most sense here. He recorded 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns last season, leading New England in receiving. At 32, he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

Diggs might have an opportunity for a better 2026 season with the Chiefs than he had with the Patriots last season. Diggs was pretty much the only receiver option for Maye to throw the ball. Patrick Mahomes has a speed threat with Xavier Worthy that will take the focus of defenses, which would allow Diggs more opportunities to get open.

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 7:48 AM.