Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney 'kind of shocked' Giants traded him

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney apparently didn't expect the New York Giants to move him ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. 

"I was kind of shocked," Toney said of the transaction that was first reported last Thursday, per Adam Teicher of ESPN. "I'm just looking forward to the opportunity available here.

"I would say it feels good [to be] pretty much wanted by a team, and I think the history probably goes back way a little further than that. Before I even came into the league, they really wanted me here."

Toney must not have been paying attention to league rumors during his lengthy absence related to hamstring issues that kept him off the field from the end of Week 2 through the time first-year Giants general manager Joe Schoen found a buyer for the 23-year-old's services. 

It was reported before the trade that Schoen "probably would like to be done with" Toney, largely because the 2021 first-round draft selection had spent much of his Giants tenure as a spectator. In total, Toney only appeared in 12 of a possible 24 games and recorded 41 catches for 420 yards and zero touchdowns. 

Following the deal between Big Blue and the Chiefs, it was suggested that the Giants didn't fully trust Toney heading into their bye week. 

"We'll try to work him in," head coach Andy Reid said about Toney's potential involvement for this coming Sunday's prime-time game between the 5-2 Chiefs and 5-2 Tennessee Titans. "He's a smart kid. He's been with us a couple days, so we've had a chance to talk to him. He picks things up fairly easily."

Toney insisted he's "working towards" making his Kansas City debut this Sunday and added he is "very eager to go out there and be the player I am" assuming he can stay healthy with his new employer.