5 immediate trades Chiefs should make before deadline to fix roster and boost Super Bowl chances

The Kansas City Chiefs already have a roster they should feel relatively good about as things start to heat up in the AFC West. However, no roster is perfect. With the trade deadline staring the NFL in the face, it's do or die for every team considering the possibility of adding a player or shipping one away. The deadline causes movement, but who could the Chiefs target?

They're already in great shape, but adding a player could slam the door on the rest of the AFC. Here's a look at who the team could add to close any small gaps in the roster.

5 immediate trades Chiefs should make

Andy Reid looks on at Chiefs vs Commanders- Source: Getty

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#1 - Trey Hendrickson, DE, Cincinnati Bengals

Trey Hendrickson didn't exactly whisper about his feelings about his place with the Cincinnati Bengals. With Chris Jones seemingly slowing down on the Kansas City Chiefs' defensive line, the team should consider adding more teeth to the pass rush. There would be no better option than adding Hendrickson.

Hendrickson, now over the age of 30, is reaching a stage of his career where playing for a contender should be prioritized above all else. The Chiefs offer that selling point. Hendrickson is coming off a pair of 17.5 sack seasons, and while his production hasn't been as impressive this season, Jones and Hendrickson on the same defensive line could give both players a shot in the arm.

#2 - Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers

The Kansas City Chiefs have a competent rushing attack, but it's clear that if there's one offensive weakness, it's their running back room. Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle both have bellcow upside but are getting in each other's way.

If the Chiefs could pry away Hubbard and give Patrick Mahomes a running back that would allow him to take a play off every once in a while, it could unlock a new level for the offense not seen since Tyreek Hill was moved.

The Panthers, housed in the NFC, have little chance of seeing the trade come back to bite them. The returns from the trade could help keep the momentum of their rebuild going as well.

#3 - Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

Alvin Kamara is reaching perhaps the final moments of his RB1 status in the NFL. However, there's still plenty of gas in the tank if he could be used as a catchback on third downs. Kamara is reaching the stage of his career where winning a Super Bowl could trump all other goals, which would make the trade an easy sell for the Saints' franchise running back.

Plus, as a longtime Sean Payton disciple, Kamara could have information about the Chiefs' new big rival in the AFC West as a bonus. With the Saints in the midst of a rebuild, any added ammunition is likely to be welcome, and trading Kamara could be the key.

#4 - DJ Moore, WR, Chicago Bears

DJ Moore is having a down season with just 403 yards and one touchdown in 2025, which doesn't line up for the Chicago Bears, who just gave him a $110 million contract that is set to run through 2029 per Spotrac.

The Bears might be ready to pull the plug, and if they agree to keep some of the salary costs, Kansas City could end up with a great depth receiver that could unlock even the best defenses. The Bears are located in the NFC, so the odds of the trade coming back to bite them in the playoffs are quite slim.

#5 - Colby Parkinson, TE, Los Angeles Rams

Travis Kelce is one of the faces of the Kansas City Chiefs, but his productivity could dip at any moment. The 36-year-old tight end is in the midst of a quality stretch of action, but nothing is guaranteed.

Adding Colby Parkinson from the Los Angeles Rams could make sense.

The Rams put a lot of eggs in second-round pick Terrance Ferguson's basket, so parting ways with Parkinson is likely, whether it's via a trade or otherwise in the offseason. The Chiefs would be getting a tight end who has popped on occasion in his young career, and give Kansas City an added layer of insurance if Kelce were to take a nosedive.

At just 26 years old, Parkinson could help kickstart the search for Kelce's successor whenever the transition away does take place.

Edited by Ian Van Roy