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Chiefs Linked to $30M Superstar in Potential Blockbuster Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Oct 14, 2025 1:35 PM ET

Key Points

The NFL trade deadline is set for Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. EST.
Pro Football Focus has identified 20 players who could potentially be on the move.
The Chiefs have been linked to a blockbuster deal for a $30 million NFL star.

The Kansas City Chiefs sit at 3-3 through the first six games of the NFL season, but they made a statement in Week 6, defeating the red-hot Detroit Lions 30-17 on "Sunday Night Football," signaling that the Chiefs are very much back.

Kansas City doesn’t have many obvious needs on either side of the ball, but they’ve shown a willingness to bolster their roster in the past—and could look to do so again.

Ahead of the Nov. 4 NFL trade deadline, Pro Football Focus mocked up 20 potential players who could be on the move—and the Chiefs were surprisingly linked to a major name.

PFF listed EDGE rusher Trey Hendrickson, who is earning $30 million this season in the final year of his contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, as a potential fit for Kansas City—if the Bengals decide to be sellers at the deadline. A trade of Hendrickson would be shocking given the high-stakes matchups the two teams have had over the years.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) runs onto the field before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium.Katie Stratman-Imagn ImagesKatie Stratman-Imagn Images

A deal for Hendrickson would be extremely difficult for the Chiefs to pull off. While adding an elite pass rusher who led the NFL in sacks in 2024 would be a huge boost to their defense, his contract presents the biggest hurdle.

Kansas City has limited cap space, meaning any trade would likely need to include one or two players to help offset the salary they would take on for the remainder of the season. Beyond that, meeting Hendrickson’s desired long-term contract this offseason would be very challenging.

As a result, while a trade could serve as a short-term “rental” to maximize the Chiefs’ Super Bowl chances, locking him up long-term would be difficult—likely limiting the offer the Bengals could receive from any contender before the Nov. 4 trade deadline.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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