The Kansas City Chiefs have released wide receiver Kadarius Toney, marking the end of his tenure with the team just two years after joining them in a midseason trade from the New York Giants. The move comes as the Chiefs undergo a significant shakeup in their receiver room ahead of the upcoming NFL season.
Toney, the 20th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Giants, struggled mightily in his first full season with the Chiefs in 2023. After showing flashes of brilliance in his limited action during the 2022 season, including a pivotal role in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVII victory, Toney failed to live up to expectations last year.
In 2023, Toney appeared in 13 games, catching 27 passes for 169 yards and one touchdown. However, his season was marred by multiple drops, including one that was intercepted for a touchdown in the Chiefs’ season-opening loss to the Detroit Lions. Additionally, Toney committed a crucial offsides penalty in a loss to the Buffalo Bills that negated what would have been a game-winning touchdown.
The Chiefs had hoped that Toney would emerge as a key contributor in their offense, but his struggles on the field, combined with injuries and off-field issues, made it clear that a change was necessary. The team had already declined Toney’s fifth-year option earlier this offseason, signaling that his future with the franchise was in doubt.
The Chiefs’ decision to release Toney comes as they have made significant investments in their receiver room this offseason. The team signed star receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown in free agency and drafted Xavier Worthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Additionally, the Chiefs re-signed JuJu Smith-Schuster, who had a productive season with the team in 2022 before spending last year with the New England Patriots.
“We just felt like we needed to go in a different direction,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said in a press conference following the move. “Kadarius is a talented player, but we felt like we needed to make some changes in our receiver room to give us the best chance to win.”
Toney’s release leaves the Chiefs with a talented but young receiver group that includes Brown, Worthy, Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman, and Skyy Moore. The team will also look to develop young players like Justyn Ross and Nikko Remigio, who both showed promise during training camp and the preseason.
For Toney, the release marks the end of a tumultuous tenure with the Chiefs and leaves his NFL future uncertain. The 25-year-old receiver will now hit the open market and will likely draw interest from teams looking for a talented but flawed player who could potentially be a steal at the right price.
“I want to thank the Chiefs organization and the fans for the opportunity to be a part of this great franchise,” Toney said in a statement. “I will always cherish the memories I made here and look forward to what the future holds.”