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Kansas City Chiefs' latest trade isn't what it seems with a major puzzle piece being overlooked in the deal

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Charles Goldman | Last updated Aug 21, 2025 4:35 PM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs' trade of WR Skyy Moore to the San Francisco 49ers isn't all that it seems.

On one hand, it looks like the team gave up on a player who was a disappointment based on his draft status. Trading a former 2022 second-round pick, Moore, and a 2027 seventh-round pick for a 2027 sixth-round pick is viewed as a failure. In reality, those who look at it this way are leaving out a large piece of the puzzle that equalizes the trade and makes it look a lot more like the Chiefs are winning on the margins.

That piece of the puzzle? WR Tyquan Thornton.

Thornton was selected at pick No. 50 in the 2022 NFL draft, a pick that the Patriots traded up with the Chiefs to acquire. Four picks later, Kansas City selected Moore out of Western Michigan. The Chiefs acquired Thornton in November of 2024 on a practice squad deal after New England released him. He's now on track to make the 53-man roster in Kansas City, which makes this trade look a lot more like swapping Moore for Thornton and moving up a round in the 2027 NFL draft in the process.

Dave Toub already told us Tyquan Thornton is making the Chiefs' 53-man roster

Just as Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub hinted the Skyy Moore trade was coming, he's already told us in so many words that Thornton will make the 53-man roster.

Chiefs STC Dave Toub on Skyy Moore: "His punt return and kick return ability has gotten better over the years. . .The other part is the mental thing with him. He's definitely an NFL player, whether he's on our team or not. He's a good football player."
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) August 19, 2025

"(I have) got to find a role for him (Tyquan Thornton)," Toub told reporters on Tuesday. "He’s definitely found a role on the offense; I don’t think there’s any question about that. He showed up there, (and) Pat (Patrick Mahomes) has a lot of confidence in him, and all (of) the offensive coaches have confidence in him. Now I’ve got to find a role for him on (special) teams, whether he’s going to play gunner, he’s going to be a kick returner, he’s going to play end on punt return. Is he going to play a two on the kickoff? He’s got to play somewhere being a third, fourth, or fifth receiver – those guys got to play on special teams because they’re taking up roster spots. But the thing about it is he’s a slight guy, so he’s got to use his speed, he’s got to use his quickness to get around people. He’s not going to run over anybody like (Ashton) Gillotte. We just got to find a role for him (Tyquan Thornton). He’s open to it, (and) he’s been great, and he’s getting better and better at gunner. He’s showing up a little bit more.”

The Chiefs seem to be getting a more versatile piece in Thornton, who they believe can regularly contribute on offense and special teams, while moving up in Day 3 of the 2027 NFL Draft. All they had to give up was a player who was unlikely to make the 53-man roster and a seventh-round draft pick to make that happen. I don't know that you can truly call it a win until the results play out on the field, but it sounds like a pretty prudent move from Brett Veach to me.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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