Fans won’t like this.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver room was a major concern last week. Now, with Rashee Rice in jail for 30 days and set to miss at least two months while recovering from a knee injury, this is officially a catastrophe.

The Chiefs should be in the market for a veteran wide receiver. Even before Rice’s scandal, they probably should’ve been looking to add another weapon for Patrick Mahomes, but this makes the situation even more pressing. Some Chiefs fans have been clamoring for a reunion with Tyreek Hill or perhaps bringing veteran Stefon Diggs as a guy who produced over 1,000 yards in 2025. But what the Chiefs truly need is a number one option who can be Mahomes’ go-to target for years to come.

That’s why a move for Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown makes perfect sense right now. However, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer recently reported that the Chiefs initially withdrew from his sweepstakes.

The Chiefs may not want to trade for A.J. Brown

“Do they go back, do they circle back, and maybe look at the idea of trading for AJ Brown? I don’t think that happens.,” Breer said. “They had that opportunity. They were on AJ Brown’s list. They said no to the Eagles in the first place.”

The Chiefs didn’t make a big move for a wideout last season because they thought that Rashee Rice would be their best reinforcement. They didn’t seem to think they’d find someone better. Rice ultimately returned, and he was average at best.

Now, it’s become pretty clear that he cannot be trusted to stay out of trouble or even on the field. The Chiefs can’t be held hostage by his antics by giving him a costly contract extension, so they may need an exit strategy right away.

Granted, A.J. Brown might not be the best guy if you’re looking to stay away from controversy or the public eye, but he can ball. Even a down year by his standards would be a career year for most wide receivers, Rashee Rice included.

For months, Brown’s seemingly imminent trade to the New England Patriots has been the league’s worst-kept secret, but nothing is official until it is actually done. If Brown considered playing for the Chiefs, then not making a run at him would be a disservice.

Still, given the steep asking price the Eagles might set for the former Tennessee Titans star, general manager Brett Veach might not want any part of that. This decision will most likely come back to haunt the Chiefs once it’s all said and done, especially if and when Rice fails to live up to the unrealistically high expectations the front office and coaching staff have bestowed upon him.