No team claimed Kadarius Toney‘s contract following his Chiefs exit, sending the former first-round pick to free agency. Unattached for just more than a week now, Toney is on the workout/meeting circuit.
The Seahawks are the first team to give the 2021 draftee a look, with ESPN’s Field Yates indicating the wideout’s Seattle meeting took place Tuesday. Given the talent Toney has flashed at points during an inconsistent career, it is unsurprising he is drawing interest.
Of course, Toney has undercut his occasionally electric displays with unreliability. The Chiefs had hoped to groom him as a No. 1-level wide receiver in 2023, having traded third- and sixth-round picks for the Florida alum before the 2022 deadline. While Toney made important contributions in Super Bowl LVII by reeling off the longest punt return in Super Bowl history and scoring a touchdown on a poorly defended goal-line play, he finished last season with just 27 receptions for 169 yards and one touchdown.
Toney, who infamously committed an offside infraction to negate his would-be go-ahead TD against the Bills, underwhelmed to the point the Chiefs’ passing attack performed better with the shifty WR off the field. Kansas City finished last season with Toney and Skyy Moore out of the mix. Toney took issue with his deactivations, with a memorable rant surfacing hours before the AFC championship game. The Chiefs made Toney a healthy scratch for Super Bowl LVIII.
Andy Reid said Toney remained in the team’s plans despite his criticism of management, and a running back experiment ensued at training camp. Kansas City, however, has not seen Rashee Rice incur a suspension yet and added old friend JuJu Smith-Schuster shortly after his Patriots release. The Chiefs kept seven wideouts, carrying Marquise Brown on their 53-man roster rather than stash the free agency addition on IR, but did not find room for Toney. The Chiefs brought Justyn Ross back on a practice squad deal but did not retain Toney.
Seattle has a clear-cut top three at receiver, carrying the Tyler Lockett–D.K. Metcalf tandem into a sixth season and having first-rounder Jaxon Smith-Njigba going into Year 2. UDFA Jake Bobo showed promise as a rookie as well, to the point the Seahawks waived 2021 second-round pick Dee Eskridge. Free agency addition Laviska Shenault and 2022 seventh-rounder Dareke Young round out Seattle’s receiving corps.
A practice squad opportunity may also present itself at some point for Toney, as it would surprise to see him remain in free agency for too long. Though, the injury-prone talent squandered an opportunity in Kansas City. His stock has dropped considerably as a result.
I think young joka has more upside pursuing his alter ego’s career of r&b than attempting to catch footballs, at least trying to do so healthfully and staying out of ak187’s hand at least.
On purpose?
Not just no…hell no.
Lmao gold tier agent
You’d expect the Patriots or Panthers to take a look, but Seattle??
As a WR, doubtful. But teams were signing returners quickly after the new kickoff was announced and Seattle has rookie Dee Williams on punts and Shenault on kickoffs. From that lens, he might be a significant upgrade.
If your team doesn’t have what it takes to win a SB trophy you might as well settle for a Toney award.
He could make Tony! Toni! Tone! a quartet!