https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2019...lable-players/
Which players could Chiefs be interested in as trade deadline approaches?
With the deadline 2019 NFL trade deadline a week from today, the Kansas City Chiefs will work to figure out which teams are selling and which players will be available. As teams self-evaluate, more players could become available.
Right now, there are several teams that are likely to be sellers at the deadline. I’ve identified four defenders that the Chiefs could be interested in were they to become available. Let’s take a look:
Redskins CB Quinton Dunbar
I suggested the Chiefs make this trade*ahead of the 2019 season, and sure enough, Dunbar is now Pro Football Focus’ No. 1-ranked cornerback. He’ll likely cost more than a fifth-round pick, as I previously suggested. Kansas City even had conversations about Dunbar with the Redskins during the Alex Smith trade negotiations.
I like the idea of adding a player like Dunbar to the mix because he has chemistry with Bashaud Breeland and Kendall Fuller from their time together in Washington. He’s a guy that can really change the complexion of this secondary and help give the pass rush some more time to hit home. He also has a year left on his contract, so he can fill a need beyond the 2019 season.
The Redskins are a directionless 1-6 team that recently fired their head coach. With a new coaching regime coming in they’ll want to begin stockpiling draft picks. They could potentially hold on to a player like Dunbar, but right now his stock is incredibly high and it likely won’t ever be higher. He’s quietly regarded as one of the top corners in the NFL. They need to sell high, and even then I’m not sure the asking price will scare Kansas City away, especially considering what they were willing to give up for Jalen Ramsey.
Falcons LB Foyesade Oluokun
The one thing that the Chiefs’ linebacker group is really lacking right now is a guy who can lock up in coverage. They thought that Darron Lee might be that guy, but he’s struggled quite a bit. For whatever reason, Dorian O’Daniel can’t seem to get on the field despite showing coverage skills and speed in 2018.
Enter Oluokun, a college safety who has converted into a linebacker in the NFL. He was taken in the sixth round of the 2018 draft by the Falcons. He’s shown some great flashes of coverage ability, especially when he has to carry in man coverage. At times he’s a little late to recognize in zone coverage concepts but he’s shown flashes there too. Oluokun is a player the Chiefs had some interest in, as evidenced by his*pre-draft visit with the team in 2018.
Before you ask, the Chiefs would be unable to get Deion Jones from the Falcons because of the salary cap. Trading his contract would be too big of a hit for the Falcons.
The Chiefs could get a player like Oluokun in a player-for-player swap for an offensive lineman. I could envision an Andrew Wylie-for-Oluokun swap with Wylie currently recovering from an ankle sprain. The only reason this makes sense is that Martinas Rankin has been impressive during his games in relief of Wylie.
Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap
The Bengals aren’t a franchise with a history of making trades for the sake of it. They’re not going to sell a proven asset just because they are 0-6.
At the same time, if the Chiefs came calling with an offer, the Bengals front office might be obliged to listen to trade talks for Dunlap. He’s 30 years old and he has 2.5 years left on his contract. He could save the Chiefs some money on the cap and wouldn’t break the bank in terms of dead-cap space. If the Bengals can get a young player in return and maybe some draft capital, it might be a smart move long-term.
At 6 feet 6 and 280 pounds, Dunlap is the prototype defensive lineman for Steve Spagnuolo’s system. One area that he’d really help the Chiefs is in the twist and stunt game. That’s a spot that needs improvement.
Dolphins CB Xavien Howard
If there’s a splash trade left for the Chiefs to make, this is probably the one. The Dolphins signed Howard to a five-year extension in May and have said they’re not interested in trading him. However, if the Chiefs came in and offered the Dolphins a similar deal to what they were rumored to have offered for Jalen Ramsey, well, they’d be fools not to take it.
The Dolphins seem to be tanking in order to get the No. 1 draft pick so they can select a quarterback in the 2020 NFL draft. They’re trotting out a replacement-level offensive line and they cut their best pass rushers.
Howard wouldn’t be just a short-term solution for the Chiefs. He could be a long-term answer at the CB position, with several players scheduled to be free agents in 2020. Howard’s contract could look like a bargain down the road.