4 Chiefs on the Chopping Block Next After Marquez Valdes-Scantling Release

[DenverChief]

1. Justin Reid, S
If the Chiefs want to free up a ton of cash, moving on from Justin Reid is one of the quickest ways to do so.

The 27-year-old safety is entering the final year of a three-year, $31.5 million contract he signed back in 2022. He's slated to carry a $14.2 million cap hit for the 2024 NFL season, however, Kansas City can save itself $10.7 million by waiving or cutting him at any point this offseason.

A former 2018 third-round pick by the Houston Texans, Reid hasn't lived up to expectations since joining the Chiefs. Playing 33 games over the last two seasons, the Prairieville, LA native has surrendered 76 receptions on 120 targets (63.3%) for 771 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
Reid struggled to cover his men throughout the 2023 campaign, highlighted by a 52.8 coverage grade on Pro Football Focus — the 12th-worst grade among 94 qualified safeties. He was also the Chiefs' fifth-worst graded defender at the Super Bowl (54.2) after allowing four receptions on as many targets for 38 yards.

The ex-Stanford Cardinal does have his solid moments now and then, but it's clear that he isn't close to being worth the $14 million cap space he takes up.


2. Kadarius Toney, WR
When the Chiefs acquired WR Kadarius Toney from the New York Giants in 2022, there was a hope that he could turn his career around in KC. After all, the former Florida Gator once had a 189-yard performance as a rookie, leaving the fanbase salivating at the thought of what he could do with Patrick Mahomes.

But instead of living up to his potential, Toney has left Chiefs fans wanting more. The 25-year-old was essentially a non-factor for the majority of the 2023 campaign, hauling in only 27 receptions for 169 yards and a touchdown across 13 games. He also yielded a 66.7 passer rating when targeted, meaning he essentially turned Mahomes into Bailey Zappe (68.8) whenever the former NFL MVP looked his way.
Injuries held Toney out of the Chiefs' final three regular-season games and the first three of the preseason before being a healthy scratch at the Super Bowl. The fact that Kansas City didn't see him as someone who could help win the second of back-to-back rings tells you everything you must know about his future.
Toney carries a $2.5 million cap hit heading into his fourth NFL campaign. Considering how the Chiefs picking up his fifth-year option is far from guaranteed, there's a decent chance the team could attempt to move on soon. Although waiving him won't save a dime, Kansas City can rid itself of his entire cap hit with a trade at any point.

3. Lucas Niang, OT
It also wouldn't be surprising if the Chiefs opted to move on from offensive tackle Lucas Niang to generate more cap space.

Niang, drafted 96th overall in 2020, hasn't lived up to his potential. After being named the starting right tackle in 2021, the 25-year-old blocker hasn't started a single game across the last two seasons, playing 21 games during that stretch. The lack of starts isn't surprising given how much he's struggled on the gridiron.

Niang struggled to provide adequate protection in 2023, finishing with 48.4 run-block and 56.5 pass-block grades on PFF. Although he only played 36 pass-block snaps, he still surrendered four pressures, meaning he essentially allowed some form of pressure on one of every nine snaps, which isn't a trend you want to see when your team has the best quarterback on the planet.
The Chiefs can save $1.1 million by trading or cutting Niang this offseason. While that isn't a ton of space, every penny counts with Kansas City looking to win a third Super Bowl in a row next year. Besides, chances are the Chiefs can find a better alternative for Niang through the 2024 NFL Draft.


4. Charles Omenihu, DE
After spending the start of his career with the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers, veteran defensive end Charles Omenihu signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Chiefs last offseason.

After serving a six-game suspension to begin the 2023 season, it didn't take Omenihu long to contribute to the Chiefs' success. The former Texas Longhorn tallied career highs in both sacks (7.0) and solo tackles (18) while forcing a pair of fumbles and breaking up two passes in 11 regular-season games with one start.

Unfortunately, Omenihu couldn't be with the Chiefs when they took on the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas. The 27-year-old veteran tore his ACL in the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens, forcing him to watch the Super Bowl from the sidelines. Considering it can take up to eight months or longer to rehab from ACL surgery, there's a chance that he could miss a good chunk of the 2024 campaign.
If the Chiefs are unsure about when Omenihu will be 100%, they could opt to send him packing in favor of more cap space. After all, the franchise can free up $7.2 million with a release or trade before or after June 1, which can then be used to either sign multiple free agents or put towards re-signing a big name, like Chris Jones.

https://kckingdom.com/posts/4-chiefs...01hqrede7421/4


So the real reason am posting this is the surprise that Reid is on this list. I didn’t think his play was as terribad as the article suggests. Did I miss something this year with his play? As far as the rest of the list goes… I agree.

[ChiefaRoo]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

I don’t disagree but was his play really that bad?

He hit and tackled like a truck in the playoffs and Super Bowl. He’s smart as hell and seems to be a great person to be around. A natural leader.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by penguinz

No one is trading for that.

Especially when you add the off the field crap on social media.

He lacked production and had social media outbursts in New York yet we still traded for him.

Your best argument is that they continued here with the best franchise in the league, but the fact remains that he does have talent. If you’re running a team like the Panthers, Titans, Patriots, etc. who lack playmakers and need to develop a QB, I think you’d be crazy not to consider flipping a 7th rounder for him.

He is not likely to pan out to much but neither is a typical 7th rounder.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Anyone remember a poster on here "Mic Jones"? He would write terrible articles like this

I vaguely remember that handle. Don't remember the articles you mention.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by Lzen

I vaguely remember that handle. Don't remember the articles you mention.

https://arrowheadaddict.com/2023/04/...s-city-chiefs/

[Imon Yourside]

We need to keep Reid, I don't think he's going anywhere

[raybec 4]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

He's not making shit on his rookie deal. Maybe it clicks with him this year. He's got a good burst. I doubt they give up on him now. But, he plays like he has this year, he's gone.

What does that mean? I'm not sure I've seen anything to justify that.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

Excellent post sir. I wholeheartedly agree about Reid - he just seems to have the leadership and alignment stuff down for the secondary guys. I have never really looked at coverage stats for safeties before so I was a bit shocked but as a Safety I think coverage #'s get a pass because they aren't supposed to be locked 1 on 1 with guys all the time, its a part of their job, but not their whole job - if he were a CB this would be another discussion.

It's not just his coverage; he misses a lot of tackles as well. We were all bitching bout that early in the season in the GDTs. He cleaned that up as the season wore on, but it's been an issue for Reid since he was drafted. 2023 was actually one of his cleaner years in both categories.

But through the first couple months of 2023, Reid was giving up a vs. Passer Rating of around 117 iirc. Basically, he was making every QB look like Mahomes when he was targeted. Again, he got better as the season progressed, but he still finished the season allowing a PR of almost 90.0, which is still too high for what he's getting paid. And Reid has never been particularly good in coverage.

It's all moot though; we're almost certainly extending him.

[BIG_DADDY]

I don't see them cutting Omenihu.

[MAHOMO 4 LIFE!]

Why the **** would we cute Reid? He brings the physicality that this defense needs. He had 95 tackles this year and 3 sacks (another 1.5 in the playoffs). Reid would be one of the last players to be cut on this team. Hes the leader of the DB room.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by MAHOMO 4 LIFE!

Why the **** would we cute Reid? He brings the physicality that this defense needs. He had 95 tackles this year and 3 sacks (another 1.5 in the playoffs). Reid would be one of the last players to be cut on this team. Hes the leader of the DB room.

Maybe because he makes most QBs look like Kirk Cousins and he misses about 10% of his tackles?

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by notorious

What the **** is Reid doing on there?

You think his play is worth a $14MM cap hit next year? I don't.

[Wallcrawler]

Originally Posted by TwistedChief

Perhaps I was a bit unnecessarily harsh toward him and for that I apologize.

But you’re the last one who should be commenting on the matter after this gem:

https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=352398

We definitely need more discussion like that!

Sorry you're unable to detect sarcasm. Were you by chance one of the hand wringers weeping for poor abused Andy?

Lmao.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Read the last sentence of the Toney portion. They mention a trade.

I bet someone out there would flip us a 6 or 7 for him.

Oh I didn't get that far I was getting brain damage reading the article.

But no way in hell is anyone giving us a pick and paying Toney $2.5MM next year.

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by Wallcrawler

Sorry you're unable to detect sarcasm. Were you by chance one of the hand wringers weeping for poor abused Andy?

Lmao.

Originally Posted by Wallcrawler

I truly hope that you have a housekeeper and are never actually within arms reach of any vacuum cleaners, your red flags are out for all to see, abuser!!.

This is gold

[TwistedChief]

Originally Posted by Wallcrawler

Sorry you're unable to detect sarcasm. Were you by chance one of the hand wringers weeping for poor abused Andy?

Lmao.

We all knew you were being sarcastic. It’s the fact that you spent a good amount of time to write it up feeling like it was clever when everyone felt it was a cringey and lame attempt at humor.

Its amazing you still don’t understand that.