The Kansas City Chiefs’ 53-man roster cutdown is under 48 hours away, and the trade market has begun to heat up around the NFL as cut candidates have been switching uniforms in recent days.
For KC, two players could still be on the move, according to The Athletic’s Chiefs correspondent Jesse Newell. During an August 23 roster projection, Newell identified linebacker/special teamer Cam Jones and cornerback Joshua Williams as trade candidates ahead of the 53-man deadline.
Williams has been on trade watch for most of the summer, so his name being mentioned isn’t exactly surprising. But Jones is a new one.
Newell believes the play of undrafted rookie linebacker Cooper McDonald could make Jones expendable via trade.
“The biggest surprise on the 53-man roster (if he does make it) will be McDonald,” Newell wrote. “The 2025 undrafted free agent has a legitimate chance to make the team after first showing up as a rookie tryout hopeful in May.”
“A 6-foot-3, 240-pound TCU product, McDonald was difficult to miss while making numerous plays during limited preseason snaps, which included a third-quarter sack in Friday’s game,” he explained. Adding: “McDonald’s emergence could push Jones and [Cole] Christiansen off the initial roster, though Jones also appears to be someone who could be traded if the Chiefs are sold enough on McDonald’s progress.”
As for Williams, Newell agreed with the sentiment of most covering the team.
“Speaking of trade candidates … a lot of teams in the NFL should be inquiring about Chiefs 2022 fourth-round draft pick Joshua Williams, who is the odd man out here,” he noted. “Williams has good size at 6-foot-3 and 193 pounds, and though he struggled to move up the depth chart this camp, he’s a great personality and locker room presence who could help a more cornerback-needy team.”
Joshua Williams Is the Chiefs’ Top Trade Chip at the 53-Man Roster Cutdown
GettyKansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams still profiles as the team’s No. 1 trade candidate.
Jones might be able to net the Chiefs a late-round pick swap, which is solid considering he’s a former undrafted prospect, but Williams feels like Kansas City’s top trade chip at the roster cutdown.
As the NFL transitions more and more into a passing league, the cornerback position has become very important, and Williams is a quality CB who could still flourish in the right system.
There have been inconsistencies in Williams’ game, which is likely the reason KC went out and targeted Kristian Fulton in free agency and Nohl Williams in the draft this offseason. But he’s far from being anything close to a bust of a draft pick, and if the Chiefs didn’t have so much depth at the position, they’d happily keep him around as a CB5.
Meanwhile, several teams around the league are really hurting for cornerback help. Looking at you, Miami.
If the Chiefs can spark a little bidding war, maybe they can actually get something of value for Joshua Williams.
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