The Kansas City Chiefs made their big trade deadline swing, acquiring Kadarius Toney from the Giants. Does that mean a Kareem Hunt return is off the table?
Kareem Hunt is on the trade block for the Cleveland Browns. The Browns reportedly seek at least a fourth-round pick in return for their backup running back, though Hunt has plenty of experience as a starter and even made the Pro Bowl in his previous time with Kansas City.
Hunt is the No. 2 in a 1-2 running back punch that includes Nick Chubb, who is consistently among the league leaders in rushing yards. In many ways, Hunt is a luxury, and one Cleveland can now turn around for draft picks in next April’s showcase.
Per ESPN, the Los Angeles Rams are interested in Hunt, but it’s unknown if they’re willing to meet the Browns’ demands of a fourth-round draft pick.
NFL rumors: Rams oust Chiefs for Kareem Hunt?
Los Angeles wants nothing to do with Cam Akers at this juncture, and would prefer to flip him along with draft capital to the Browns for Hunt. The only problem? LA doesn’t have many draft picks to play with.
Kansas City would’ve been a suitable location for Hunt, given their familiarity with him, had they not just traded for Toney. With that in mind, it seems unlikely Kansas City makes another trade of this magnitude.
Brett Veach and Andy Reid can do plenty with a fourth-round pick, and have proven capable evaluators of talent in the past. Heck, Hunt himself was selected in the third round by Kansas City’s regime.
Hunt’s legal history is also a reason for the Chiefs to stray away. In 2019, he was suspended for eight games for violating the league’s personal-conduct policy. This was after a video surfaced of Hunt shoving and kicking a woman in February of 2018.
The Chiefs promptly cut Hunt after the incident.
While some fans would want him back due to his on-field ability, doing so would bring with it a negative perception the organization should aim to avoid after acquiring Toney.