Kansas City Chiefs could make a season-changing trade before the 2026 NFL deadline, but there's a catch

The Kansas City Chiefs have until 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 10, to make a trade, and the clock is short. Kansas City has lost two straight road games, to the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos. Against Denver, the Chiefs had a chance to win on the final play, but a false start made the red-zone attempt harder. Patrick Mahomes needs more help, and several wide receivers have been linked to the team. Here is where the market stands.Chiefs could trade for a wide receiver before the 2026 NFL deadlineWide receiver is the clearest hole on the roster. ESPN’s Nate Taylor named a receiver as the Chiefs’ top priority before the deadline, and the numbers back him up.Travis Kelce, a tight end, leads the team with 29 catches for 410 yards and two touchdowns. Xavier Worthy is second with 27 catches, but he has just 230 yards and one score. Rashee Rice has 243 receiving yards. Running back Emmett Johnson has 237, and 70 of those came on one play. Tyquan Thornton gave the offense another option until an injury took him out.Kenneth Walker III, signed in the offseason, has helped the backfield. That solved one problem. The passing game still looks thin for a team built around Mahomes.Chris Godwin and Brian Thomas lead the list of possible targetsSeveral receivers have been tied to Kansas City, though none looks like a sure thing.Seth Walder pointed to Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin. He has played his whole NFL career with the Buccaneers and would give Mahomes an experienced target. Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas is the younger name. The Jaguars would have to agree to move him, and nothing says they will.Former quarterback Russell Wilson floated New York Jets receiver Garrett Wilson. The reports supplied do not say whether the Jets would listen. Tyreek Hill has come up too, but he is not expected to play until at least December, which limits what he could add down the stretch.Kansas City has not announced a deal for any of them.Deadline rules and the trades already madeThe deadline falls after Week 9 for the third straight season. The league once held it after Week 6, then moved it to the Tuesday after Week 8 in 2012. Owners pushed it back one more week in 2024. After 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT) Tuesday, no trades can be completed until the offseason. The Chiefs can still sign free agents.Other teams have not waited. According to USA TODAY Sports, the Giants got quarterback J.J. McCarthy from the Vikings on September 28 for a fifth-round pick. Dallas added cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from Pittsburgh on October 1. Baltimore landed lineman Cam Jurgens from Philadelphia on October 7, and Houston picked up Marvin Harrison Jr. from Arizona on October 12.Late October brought more. Seattle acquired Quenton Nelson from Indianapolis on October 27. The Colts sent DeForest Buckner to San Francisco a day later. Chicago got Jeffery Simmons from Tennessee on October 29. Then on November 4, Baltimore added quarterback Jacoby Brissett from the Cardinals.Kansas City has two days left to join them.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.