After an offseason featuring a number of moves made at the receiver position, questions remain with respect to the future of Chiefs wideout Kadarius Toney. The former trade acquisition is in a much different situation now than he was this time last offseason. 
[RELATED: Chiefs Agree To Record-Breaking Extension With C Creed Humphrey]
Toney’s performance in Super Bowl LVII led to high expectations ahead of the 2023 campaign. Instead, the 2021 first-rounder struggled when on the field and found himself a healthy scratch midway through the season and into the playoffs. That stretch included accusations of the team lying about his health situation, but he remains in the fold for at least the immediate future.
Kansas City declined Toney’s 2025 fifth-year option, making him a pending free agent. The 25-year-old’s market will be dictated by his ability to stay on the field and deliver on the potential he has flashed at times during his NFL tenure. Toney was known to be a release candidate earlier this offseason, however, and head coach Andy Reid‘s latest comments on him confirm his roster spot is far from a guarantee,
“We went through last year with him, so we kind of know who he is,” Reid said in press conference following Kansas City’s preseason finale (video link). “He’s a talented kid. He’s in a battle to make the team and all that bit, but we’ve never questioned the talent there. Him staying healthy was the main thing.”
The defending champions added Marquise Brown in free agency and Xavier Worthy on Day 1 of the draft. They are positioned to occupy notable roles in Kansas City’s passing attack, and the same will likely be true of Rashee Rice once he is available to the team (which may end being as early as Week 1). Skyy Moore, Mecole Hardman and Justin Watson are also in place as depth receiver options.
While trying to find a role for Toney, the Florida alum has seen time at running back this summer. Reid’s remarks make Toney’s status one to watch closely as roster cutdowns loom, but at this point it would come as little surprise if he were to find himself on a new team come the fall.
ESPN headline last night saying it was his best performance yet. 2/26. No idea why this guy gets so much hype. He was a bust candidate coming out of college when NYG foolishly drafted him in the 1st and he’s done nothing but prove he could be the bust people thought him to be
Weeks 4 and 5 of his rookie year were an exciting time. That’s an awfully short exciting time for a first round pick, though.
It took The Guardian of all places to publish a long read that asked, “Is something rotten at the heart of the Kansas City Chiefs?” Toney is the least of those worries.
I’m surprised he wasn’t out the door early in the offseason after last year’s frustration. Maybe if Brown weren’t an injury concern, Rice weren’t a legal concern, and Moore had shown anything at all, Toney would already be gone.
Maybe if half the Chiefs roster wasn’t a legal concern…
LOL… Name ’em.
Half of 50, right.. It should be easy. Name 7 of em.
You
@kingkeg
Rashee Rice
Charles Omenihu
Wanya Morris
Chukweuebuka Godrick
Isiah Buggs
Justyn Ross
Britt Reid
Pat Mahomes
Jackson Mahomes
Half the Hunt family themselves
Look up Lamar Hunt Jr. seriously
Chiefs are a literal criminal organization. Andy would let his son back on the team if he could, he doesn’t care. Wanted Rice to zoom call from jail for practice. If it wasn’t for Patty golden boy and T Swift they would be kicked out of the league
@kingkeg
History of the Chiefs criminals:
Frank Clark, Tyreek Hill, Kareem Hunt, Eric Bieniemy, Sean Smith, Larry Johnson, Tim Barnett, Roy Miller, Jared Allen, Dwayne Bowe, Eric Warfield, Jovan Belcher. etc.
Al Hill Jr, Clark Hunt Jr himself has been indicated in SA.
Not to mention, Clark Jr is the cheapest, nepo ba**stard in all of professional sports. Got the team sitting on folding chairs and using a high school weight room while forcing KC taxpayers to help him out (they didn’t fall for it). IF I was a KC fan, I’d be fine with them leaving the state. F*ck ’em. And I used to be a fan of the old Chiefs – Eddie Kennison, Trent Green, Priest Holmes, Dante Hall – I’m not some hater. They are just a sh*t organization now. Got people gunning people down at their championship parades even. Got the governor on the payroll letting Andy’s kid out of jail. That’s some mafia sh*t right there.
He was great at Florida, but I think expectations were he was going to be Percy Harvin 2.0, and he’s just not at that level, but still an exciting player with the ball in his hands. Not sure he could take the punishment as a RB, but a hybrid role in the right offense, I think he could still be really good. He’s just not a WR1 or 2, probably.
He’s not smart enough is what is comes down to. You gotta know the playbook, and be able to anticipate route changes based on the coverage the defense is throwing at you.
I read said article and her #1 gripe was Butkers speech and how he wasn’t disciplined for offending some. The man didn’t do anything wrong except convey his opinion and since it isn’t popular in the media and those types she wants to know why he wasn’t fired. She touches on all the other situations but the heart of the matter is she hated that speech
You must not have read that long read from The Guardian. Rashee Rice and Isaiah Buggs were referenced in that article before Butker was mentioned. There’s also room for Tyreek Hill, Kareem Hunt, etc., etc.
kingkeg
LOL Again…
You said “Half the Roster” and then name a Rookie and a guy that never played One Single Second for the Chiefs…
Then you cry “Tyreek”… He’s a Dolphin you . Go cry to the Dolphins.
Same with “Hunt”… We cut him, Cleveland signed him.
But you don’t gripe at the Browns ? That’s pretty goofy.
Harrison Butker is an outstanding human being. Period. If you think he’s not, then you didn’t “have someone read the speech” to you… We extended him, Thank God we did too.
Everything you’ve said so far is obviously because you’re jealous AF of these Chiefs.
Search out that long read from The Guardian. The Chiefs are the NFL’s latest example of “the ends justify the means” — Kansas City didn’t cut Kareem Hunt loose until TMZ published video of his woman-bashing.
And the Chiefs have the unashamed gall to demand a taxpayer-funded sportsball palace when they can afford to build it themselves.
If the Chiefs release this guy, who is going to host the Toney Awards?
Gasp