The Chiefs have built one of the NFL's best defenses in part because they traded away Tyreek Hill
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — It has taken two full years to accurately evaluate one of the most important deals that the Kansas City Chiefs have ever made, when they traded game-breaking wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins for a package of draft picks.
The Chiefs knew that if they gave Hill a longterm contract, it would be in the neighborhood of the four-year, $120 million deal he later signed with the Dolphins. And while that would have ensured one of the league's most dynamic weapons for Patrick Mahomes for the near future, it would have saddled Kansas City with a mountain of long-term financial commitments.
Turns out the deal made by Chiefs general manager Brett Veach played out well beyond anyone's wildest dreams.
Two of the draft picks they acquired turned into All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie and rookie safety Chamarri Conner, who played big roles in shutting down Hill and the Dolphins along with the Bills and the Ravens in the postseason. Some of the other selections they received they used to move around the draft board and add other players to the mix.
The cash savings likewise allowed them to make a series of savvy free agent signings: safety Justin Reid to orchestrate the back end, and this past offseason, linebacker Drue Tranquill, safety Mike Edwards and defensive end Charles Omenihu.
That influx of talent helped Kansas City become the league's No. 2-ranked defense this season, and that in turn helped to keep Mahomes and Co. in games when the Chiefs offense was struggling to find its footing early on.
"I think it speaks to this organization and the quest they're on bringing in good players, whether it's through the draft or free agency," said Tranquill, who arrived in Kansas City from the AFC West rival Chargers. "Veach is one of the best doing that, and you know, Charles and Mike and myself, and the other free agent acquisitions that were brought on, everybody kind of bought into the championship culture here, and that's what coach (Andy) Reid sets forth."
The trade of Hill actually turned out to be a win-win. He led the NFL in yards receiving and tied for the most touchdown catches for Miami this past year, and he remains one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the game.
But it's hard to believe the Chiefs would not do it over.
After all, it helped them build one of the most dangerous defenses in the game.
OFFENSE
The Chiefs offense has been built around Mahomes since the moment he was drafted in 2017, and while his numbers this season took a dip — partly thanks to a leagueleading 44 dropped passes — his postseason play has been superb.
While the Chiefs spent in free agency to add bookend tackles Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor, most of Mahomes' supporting cast arrived through the draft. That includes standout center Creed Humphrey and right tackle Trey Smith, who along with left guard Joe Thuney, have given Kansas City one of the best interior offensive lines in the league.
Isiah Pacheco, one of the league's bright young running backs, was a seventh-round pick two years ago.
The biggest reason for the late-season success of the Chiefs' offense, though, has been the emergence of Rashee Rice, the wide receiver they took in the second round last April. Veach largely whiffed using a second-round pick the previous year on Skyy Moore, who is on injured reserve, but he tried again with Rice and hit a home run. Rice had 79 catches for 938 yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season, and he has 20 catches for 223 yards and a score in three playoff games.