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We have crossed the halfway point of the 2022 regular season with Week 10 marking the start of the proverbial back-nine.
For the Kansas City Chiefs, it’s been a very successful and familiar start at 6-2, but that’s what this franchise and this fanbase expect. The end goal — another Super Bowl title — is far from finished, and trade deadline acquisition Kadarius Toney could fit into those plans in a big way.
At least, that’s what Andscape senior NFL writer Jason Reid voiced during an article with ESPN.
NFL Writer Has Bold Prediction for Chiefs’ Kadarius Toney
During a midseason compilation piece projecting the NFL’s second half, ESPN called on affiliates like Andscape and Reid to give their best and boldest predictions for the remainder of the 2022 campaign.
It just so happened that his contribution featured the Chiefs’ newcomer at wide receiver.
“Kadarius Toney will lead the Chiefs in catches of 20-plus yards the rest of the way,” Reid proclaimed loudly in his headline.
The current leader in this stat after the first nine weeks is tight end Travis Kelce with 10. At WR, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are tied for second with six apiece, followed by Mecole Hardman with five.
“The new Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver should emerge as quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ top deep threat,” explained Reid, “reminding everyone why the [New York] Giants selected him in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft. He will provide the Chiefs with some of the explosive elements missing in their passing game since [Tyreek] Hill was traded to the [Miami] Dolphins.”
Anytime a player draws Hill comparisons that is music to the ears of Chiefs Kingdom. Some thought a combination of Hardman and rookie Skyy Moore could sort of take on that role in the offense, but replacing the unique superstar was a near-impossible feat.
Instead, the Kansas City offense has morphed into something new — a deep group of weapons that flaunts a bunch of different skill sets. The result has been equally hard to defend, and Toney adds even more talent with his dynamic ability as a route runner and ball carrier.
Reid concluded: “The Chiefs are currently tied with the Dolphins in passing plays that gain 20 or more yards (36), but Toney will take the big-play offense to another level. Mahomes will wind up being very pleased about this pre-deadline trade.”
Kadarius Toney Should See More Snaps in Week 10
The Chiefs made it very clear that they were going to ease their new playmaker into the offense against the Tennessee Titans but Toney should see more work in Week 10, especially if Hardman ends up missing the game.
Hardman missed Wednesday and Thursday practices ahead of the matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars due to an abdomen injury. His absence would certainly boost the role of Toney.
“We wanted to get [Toney] 10 or so reps and just kind of get him going a little bit,” head coach Andy Reid told reporters after Week 9. “So, he’ll get more as we go here. I want to see how he does this week [in practice].”
There’s really no telling how the Chiefs plan to use Toney moving forward, but it’s definitely an exciting storyline to watch.
“If I told you everything he could do I’d be letting the cat out of the bag, right?” Joked offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. “Let’s just say this. We’re coaching all of our guys to be out there and be at their best when their best is needed. So, whatever role that he needs to wear or whatever hat that he needs to wear, hell, if we need him to go play quarterback — him, Mecole, Clyde [Edwards-Helaire], any of them — they’ll go out and do the best that they can do.”
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