Chiefs predicted to acquire edge rusher, running back in trades with Titans, Dolphins

Mike Moraitis

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Chiefs predicted to acquire edge rusher, running back in trades with Titans, Dolphins image

After an 0-2 start, many were predicting the demise of the Kansas City Chiefs, but as we've seen time and time again, that was very premature.

Now, the Chiefs are red-hot after winning five of their last six games and they should be focused on shoring up any needs at the trade deadline.

Two needs the Chiefs could address are edge rusher and running back. Kansas City needs more firepower on the edge to help George Karlaftis and an injury to Isiah Pacheco leaves the Chiefs with a question mark at running back.

Even if Pacheco turns out to be just fine and returns soon, the Chiefs could stand to add a more explosive option at the position.

With all that in mind, Rob Gullo of College Sports Network is predicting the Chiefs will pull off two trades, one with the Tennessee Titans for running back Tony Pollard and another for Miami Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips.

Gullo sees the Chiefs giving up a 2026 sixth-round pick for Pollard and a 2026 fourth-round pick for Phillips.

"The Kansas City Chiefs have struggled running the ball the season," Gullo said. "The leading rusher is Isiah Pacheco, who has just 329 rushing yards, and one touchdown. Through eight games, quarterback Patrick Mahomes is still the team’s leading rusher. The Titans are known to be sellers, and they could move Tony Pollard, who they signed to a three-year deal prior to the 2024 season."

"The Kansas City Chiefs need an upgrade in their pass-rush rotation. George Karlaftis is the only player on the defense with more than two sacks this season," Gullo writes. "Phillips is in the final year of his rookie contract with the Dolphins, and the Dolphins could be looking to get some value out of him before moving on from him if they do so next season."

With the Dolphins and Titans sporting 2-7 and 1-7 records, respectively, they should be looking to sell off as many assets as possible to get more draft picks.

Based on rumors from The Athletic's Dianna Russini, both Pollard and Phillips appear to be available.

"Miami has received interest from the Eagles, 49ers, Patriots and others on OLB Jaelan Phillips (The Dolphins are looking for at least a third-rounder in return)," Russini wrote of Phillips.

"The players the Titans are fielding the most calls on: DE Arden Key, LB Dre’Mont Jones, RB Tony Pollard and DT T’Vondre Sweat," Russini also reported.

Phillips was once on a star trajectory earlier in his career with 22 sacks over his first 42 games in the NFL, but a torn Achilles and torn ACL in back-to-back years derailed him. That said, Phillips is now healthy and is returning to form with two sacks in his last three games.

Pollard is one of the more underrated backs in the league. He has eclipsed 1,000 yards on the ground in three straight seasons, including in 2024, when he was on one of the worst offenses in the NFL in Tennessee.

Not only is Pollard an effective runner, he's also an elite pass-catcher out of the backfield and would be a sizeable upgrade over both Pacheco and Hunt.

Unlike Phillips, Pollard is under contract in 2026, so he doesn't have to be a rental. That's important to note because Pacheco and Hunt are both slated to be free agents.

Phillips might be slated to hit free agency next offseason, but he's also just 26 years old, so he could be a long-term solution if he plays his way into an extension. And, if he fully returns to the form we saw over the first three seasons of his career, a fourth-round pick for his services would be a steal of a deal for Kansas City.

If the Chiefs had to choose one of these two trades, they would probably acquire Phillips over Pollard. After all, edge rusher is a premium position and a more dire need at the moment.

But if they were able to acquire both players, it would be a home-run deadline for general manager Brett Veach.

NFL Trade Rumors

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