{"id":44628,"date":"2025-12-03T17:12:20","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T17:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=44628"},"modified":"2025-12-03T17:12:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T17:12:20","slug":"chiefs-trade-pitch-pairs-justin-jefferson-with-patrick-mahomes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=44628","title":{"rendered":"Chiefs Trade Pitch Pairs Justin Jefferson With Patrick Mahomes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"post-featured-container-id\">\n<div id=\"post-featured\" class=\"has-video wp-caption \">\n<figure class=\"h-responsive\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 780 \/ 439;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 1em auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Patrick-Mahomes66-e1763943113391.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780\" alt=\"Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes sends message to teammates after Week 12 win over Colts.\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"caption-credit\"> Getty <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"c-post-image-caption-text\">Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Kansas City Chiefs\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nfl\/kansas-city-chiefs\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"118209\">Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> have yet to miss an AFC title game with quarterback <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nfl\/player\/patrick-mahomes\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Patrick Mahomes<\/a> under center, but the team is currently staring down a considerably worse fate after a 6-6 start to the campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Kansas City is the No. 10 seed in the conference heading into Week 14 with a 33 percent chance of earning a spot in the playoffs, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfl.com\/standings\/playoff-picture\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\">NFL.com<\/a>. But even if the Chiefs win out \u2014 or at worst go 4-1 down the stretch \u2014 and sneak into the tournament, the front office and coaching staff will grapple with serious personnel issues heading into 2026.<\/p>\n<p>The offensive line poses a couple of major questions, as does the running back position behind it. The defensive line is legitimately weak, while the secondary has taken a major step back from recent Super Bowl runs.<\/p>\n<p>Kansas City has some big-play threats in the pass game with <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nfl\/player\/rashee-rice\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Rashee Rice<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nfl\/player\/xavier-worthy\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Xavier Worthy<\/a>, but the Chiefs could still be in the market for an elite-level wide receiver. Perhaps more than anything, Mahomes could use such a player to help him resurrect a more consistent explosiveness to the offense, such as the one that existed when <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nfl\/player\/travis-kelce\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Travis Kelce<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nfl\/player\/tyreek-hill\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Tyreek Hill<\/a> roamed opposing secondaries during their respective primes.<\/p>\n<p>Evan Massey of Newsweek on Monday, December 1 suggested a blockbuster deal with the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Minnesota Vikings\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nfl\/minnesota-vikings\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"118211\">Minnesota Vikings<\/a> for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/47616\/justin-jefferson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\">$140 million<\/a> wideout <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nfl\/player\/justin-jefferson\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Justin Jefferson<\/a>, who has shown frustration with the direction of the team\u2019s offense under first-year starting quarterback <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nfl\/player\/j-j-mccarthy\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">JJ McCarthy<\/a>, and others, this season.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Justin Jefferson Might Want Out of Minnesota at Some Point Next Season, Early 2027<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5579080\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 792px;\">\n<figure class=\"h-responsive\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 782 \/ 440;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 1em auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/justin-jefferson-minnesota-vikings_784959.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=782\" alt=\"Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5579080\" data-lazy-load=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/justin-jefferson-minnesota-vikings_784959.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/justin-jefferson-minnesota-vikings_784959.jpg?resize=150,84 150w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/justin-jefferson-minnesota-vikings_784959.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/justin-jefferson-minnesota-vikings_784959.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/justin-jefferson-minnesota-vikings_784959.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/justin-jefferson-minnesota-vikings_784959.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/justin-jefferson-minnesota-vikings_784959.jpg?resize=782,440 782w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/justin-jefferson-minnesota-vikings_784959.jpg?resize=780,439 780w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/justin-jefferson-minnesota-vikings_784959.jpg?resize=425,239 425w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/justin-jefferson-minnesota-vikings_784959.jpg?resize=320,180 320w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/justin-jefferson-minnesota-vikings_784959.jpg?resize=267,150 267w\" \/><\/figure>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5579080\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"caption-credit\">Getty<\/span>Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Massey\u2019s case is dependent on Jefferson asking for a trade, which isn\u2019t necessarily likely but is certainly possible.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_blockParagraph__I2kr4\">\u201cJefferson has been seen clearly frustrated on the sidelines during multiple games this season. That frustration has led to some concern in Minnesota,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/sports\/nfl\/kansas-city-chiefs-justin-jefferson-trade-destination-11138674\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\">Massey wrote<\/a>. \u201cCould it be possible that Jefferson decides he needs to leave the Vikings to contend for a Super Bowl? Might he decide to request a trade in the future?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_blockParagraph__I2kr4\">\u201cShould that happen, many teams across the <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nfl\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">NFL<\/a> would line up with interest,\u201d Massey continued. \u201cHowever, there might not be a better potential destination than joining up with Patrick Mahomes on the Kansas City Chiefs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jefferson, 26, has three years remaining on his contract, which is among the most expensive at the position in the league. There is almost zero chance that Minnesota would actually want to move its best player, but depending on how the quarterback position shakes out next spring, it\u2019s something Jefferson could hypothetically desire and a move the Vikings might have to consider.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Vikings Have Minimal Options to Improve QB Position in Immediate Future<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5636641\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 792px;\">\n<figure class=\"h-responsive\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 782 \/ 442;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 1em auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2249244350-e1764715497971.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=782\" alt=\"Kevin O'Connell Minnesota Vikings\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5636641\" data-lazy-load=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5636641\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"caption-credit\">Getty<\/span>Head coach Kevin O\u2019Connell of the Minnesota Vikings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Minnesota is currently set up to enter the 2026 campaign <a href=\"https:\/\/overthecap.com\/salary-cap\/minnesota-vikings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\">$36 million<\/a> in the red. That means meaningful cuts to the roster are coming, and that\u2019s with McCarthy under center on an annual average salary of just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/90339\/jj-mccarthy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\">$5.4 million<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Vikings won\u2019t be in a position to spend $30-$35 million annually on a QB like <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nfl\/player\/daniel-jones\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Daniel Jones<\/a>, which leaves the draft or a reclamation project as the only viable ways to put a legitimate starter behind McCarthy at QB2 and let them battle it out.<\/p>\n<p>Minnesota probably isn\u2019t going to use a top draft pick on a QB, which means the options are signing a player like <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nfl\/player\/kenny-pickett\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Kenny Pickett<\/a> in free agency, or trading a third-rounder or the like to the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"San Francisco 49ers\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nfl\/san-francisco-49ers\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"118210\">San Francisco 49ers<\/a> for <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nfl\/player\/mac-jones\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Mac Jones<\/a>. Neither of those players necessarily profiles as a Super Bowl QB, even despite Jones\u2019 resurgence this season.<\/p>\n<p>Jefferson is headed for Canton when his playing days are done. That said, he is on track for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/J\/JeffJu00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\">career lows across the board<\/a> in 2025 \u2014 save for maybe the 2023 season when he dealt with a hamstring issue and played in just 10 games.<\/p>\n<p>Minnesota bet big on McCarthy and lost. There is no one behind him other than <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nfl\/minnesota-vikings\/max-brosmer-bad-news-before-seahawks-debut\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Max Brosmer<\/a>, an undrafted rookie who threw four interceptions in his first career start at Seattle last weekend.<\/p>\n<p>Absent a huge leap by either McCarthy or Brosmer, or the acquisition of a quarterback next spring who shows big potential early, Jefferson\u2019s patience could begin to wane by as early as the coming trade deadline. At that point, the Chiefs and a couple of first-round picks might look like a sensible solution to everyone involved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Getty Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Kansas City Chiefs have yet to miss an AFC title game with quarterback Patrick Mahomes under center, but the team is currently &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":44629,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44628","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44628","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=44628"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44628\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44630,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44628\/revisions\/44630"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/44629"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=44628"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=44628"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=44628"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}