Chiefs GM: We'd make Toney trade all over again

The Kansas City Chiefs waived Kadarius Toney earlier this week, but general manager Brett Veach doesn't regret trading for the wide receiver in 2022.

"I don't think we're sitting here going for a third straight Super Bowl (title) had we not made that trade," Veach said Thursday, according to ESPN's Adam Teicher. "So, from that standpoint, we'd do it all over again in a heartbeat."

The Chiefs seemed like a great fit for Toney - a dynamic first-round prospect in 2021 - when they acquired him from the New York Giants in exchange for a third- and sixth-round pick in October 2022. The Florida product did have his moments with Kansas City, as he scored a touchdown and set a Super Bowl record with a 65-yard punt return to help beat the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.

However, Toney lacked consistency and left the Chiefs with only 430 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns in 20 regular-season appearances. The 25-year-old, who remains unsigned, particularly struggled with drops in 2023 and was a healthy scratch in multiple games, including Super Bowl LVIII versus the San Francisco 49ers.

"We're certainly disappointed," Veach said. "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. Like walking out the first day of training camp last year and tearing his (meniscus). I mean, that was something that was just unfortunate."

The GM added, "If he's able to tighten up some of the offseason stuff and get his body (right), I think he'll go out there and make a ton of plays for another team."

Kansas City added multiple receivers this past offseason, including first-round pick Xavier Worthy and former 1,000-yard pass-catcher Marquise Brown.