Getty Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette
The Kansas City Chiefs began roster cutdown day in the NFL with a trade, sending wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a swap of 2025 conditional seventh-round picks, per the Panthers.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette acquired in trade with Chiefs
Smith-Marsette, 24, was a standout during the preseason. In three games, he registered 9 catches on 10 targets for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was PFF’s highest-graded receiver throughout the preseason with a 91.1 offensive grade.
The Chiefs being able to trade Smith-Marsette shows how deep the team is at receiver. Prior to any official cuts taking place at Tuesday’s deadline, seven receivers in Kansas City have a strong case to make the 53-player roster: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, Rashee Rice, Richie James, Justyn Ross, and Justin Watson.
It would be unorthodox for the defending Super Bowl champions to keep that many receivers on the team given the Chiefs’ roster structure in years past. But due to the overall youth of that group and the injury-plagued past of Toney, it would be justified for the team to carve out seven roster spots for that grouping.
Kadarius Toney on Track to Play in Week 1: Report
One of the biggest questions on the Chiefs’ roster heading into Week 1 of the regular season is the health status of Kadarius Toney. Toney tore his meniscus on Day 1 of training camp and underwent surgery soon after, which forced him out of the remainder of camp and the preseason.
Head coach Andy Reid said after Kansas City’s preseason finale that the team would take it “day by day” with Toney and that it was “possible” he could return to practice the week following the end of the preseason.
On August 28, NFL Media’s James Palmer revealed that the Chiefs are optimistic that Toney will be ready for the team’s regular season opener against the Detroit Lions on Thursday, September 9.
“They think [Kadarius Toney] is doing great in terms of his recovery,” Palmer said on NFL Network’s NFL Total Access.
Can #chiefs WR Kadarius Toney, who has missed all of training camp with a partially torn meniscus, actually play Week 1 vs the #lions? There’s some optimism. My report @nfltotalaccess on @nflnetwork
Twitter Reacts to Chiefs Trading Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Users on Twitter — which was recently rebranded to “X” — reacted to the Chiefs trading Ihmir Smith-Marsette to the Panthers.
“As a Chiefs fan, I would have loved to keep ISM,” one user wrote. “He rocked out in the pre-season. But if he wouldn’t make 53 and was likely to be plucked off practice squad, then nice to get a little value back. Based on predicted records, Chiefs likely move up 20+ spots in 2024 7th round.”
@RapSheet @ChiefsJayhawks As a Chiefs fan, I would have loved to keep ISM. He rocked out in the pre-season.
But if he wouldn’t make 53 and was likely to be plucked off practice squad, then nice to get a little value back. Based on predicted records, Chiefs likely move up 20+ spots in 2024 7th round.
“Panthers got a good one I wanted him to make the chiefs 53 man I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes plays this year with Bryce [Young],” another user wrote.
@RapSheet Panthers got a good one I wanted him to make the chiefs 53 man I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes plays this year with Bryce
“Panther fans clearly don’t know this guy. He’s electric, fast and easily better than any 7th rounder you gonna draft,” another user wrote.
@RapSheet Panther fans clearly don’t know this guy. He’s electric, fast and easily better than any 7th rounder you gonna draft.
“I didn’t have ISM making the 53 but had the Chiefs decided to hold onto him, I wouldn’t been mad at all,” another user wrote. “The kid absolutely balled out in training camp and preseason and the Chiefs capitalized on his performance. I wish him nothing but success in Carolina.”
“I told one of my buddies yesterday, that they were going to try to trade him for at least a conditional 7th because he deserves to be a starter,” another user wrote.