The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the hottest teams in the NFL. They've won three in a row by a combined score of 89-24. They already have one of the best rosters in the league, but with the NFL trade deadline coming up next Tuesday, there is still plenty of speculation about what Chiefs GM Brett Veach might do. Veach is historically aggressive when there’s a move he wants to make, but what might he be looking to do this year?
With the return of veteran defensive tackle Mike Pennel to help shore up the middle of the defensive line, there are only a couple of other clear needs left. You can certainly make an argument that a pass-rushing defensive end is Kansas City’s top need. The problem is that defensive ends who can rush the passer well enough to be a clear upgrade are expensive — both in trade compensation and in cost if you want to keep them beyond this season. However, the same usually isn’t true for Kansas City’s other biggest need: running back.
The Chiefs’ offense has been transforming back into the juggernaut it was in Patrick Mahomes’ early years as the starter. They’ve won five of their last six games, and all of those victories came by 13 points or more. Mahomes finally looks like he’s trusting both his pass catchers and his offensive line. That’s saying something, considering he’s been without his starting left tackle, Josh Simmons, for the past couple of games, and All-Pro guard Trey Smith missed the last game as well.
Breece Hall is the right "all-in" move for Brett Veach and the Chiefs before the NFL's trade deadline.
The only thing missing from the Chiefs’ offense is a true starting-caliber running back. Isiah Pacheco has done a solid job as Kansas City’s primary back, but despite his tremendous work ethic, he has a limited upside and is now dealing with an injury that could increase the team’s need for help at the position. Kareem Hunt has been fantastic in short-yardage situations, but he’s 30 years old and shouldn’t be receiving a ton of touches every week. That’s where current New York Jet Breece Hall could come in.
With Kansas City’s vaunted passing attack, a back with Hall’s talent would present a real dilemma for opposing defenses. If they continue to focus on stopping Patrick Mahomes and the passing game, a back like Hall could exploit light boxes with great success. If defenses then have to commit more defenders toward stopping the run, it will make things that much easier for Mahomes and the passing game. Simply put, Hall could make Kansas City’s offense virtually impossible to stop if they stay healthy.
This move just makes too much sense. Despite recent reports that the New York Jets don’t want to trade Hall, they are just 1-7 and focused on building for the future. Hall is going to be a free agent at the end of the season, and a team like the Jets isn’t going to invest a big contract in a running back when they aren’t ready to win yet. They also have two other young backs—Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis—still under contract for next season. With running back values at an all-time low, Hall could likely be had for much less than a high-quality pass rusher.
Yes, the Chiefs adding a starting-caliber pass rusher at the trade deadline would be fantastic, but Steve Spagnuolo has shown he can get Super Bowl-winning results without elite edge production. If that move doesn’t happen, the Chiefs’ defense will still be fine. This is the same defense that has allowed just seven total points in the past two games. So, if Brett Veach decides to bypass defensive help and instead gives the Jets a mid-round draft pick to bring a true No. 1 running back to Kansas City, making their offense completely unstoppable, Chiefs' fans should be absolutely thrilled.