The Kansas City Chiefs parted ways with wide receiver Kadarius Toney this week and despite an underwhelming end to his tenure with the team, general manager Brett Veach doesn’t regret the midseason trade he made two years ago to acquire him.
Veach sent 2023 third- and sixth-round picks to the New York Giants in 2022 for the promising then-23-year-old wideout. But after 20 games in two seasons, it was clear Toney had run his course in Kansas City.
“I don't think we're sitting here going for a third straight Super Bowl [championship] had we not made that trade,” Veach said, via ESPN. “So, from that standpoint, we'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.”
Toney’s biggest contribution was his performance against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. He had one catch but it was a touchdown and he set up another score later in the fourth quarter with a 65-yard punt return that put the KC offense at the five-yard line.
But aside from that one game, the remainder of Toney’s time in Kansas City was forgettable.
He spent significant time battling injuries, including last season when he tore his meniscus during training camp. Toney played most of the year but was on the team’s injury report for 19-of-21 games and his effort in practice was often called into question.
“We're certainly disappointed,” Veach added. “I think he's disappointed. We really liked the kid, and I know that people have different takes on Kadarius, but I know in this building he's a bright kid, he's a smart kid. When you look back on it, some of this stuff is a stroke of bad luck in regards to some of the injuries you can't control.”
Toney ended his Chiefs run with 41 catches, 340 receiving yards and three touchdowns plus 16 punt returns for 119 yards.
