The New York Giants have traded their 2021 first-round draft selection wide receiver Kadarius Toney to the Kansas City Chiefs for a compensatory third-round pick and the team’s original sixth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, the team announced Thursday.
The third-rounder is a compensatory choice the Chiefs received after the Chicago Bears hired Ryan Poles as their general manager. Poles had been the Chiefs’ executive director of player personnel.
In two seasons with the Giants, the 23-year-old Toney struggled with injuries and played in only 12 of 24 games with five starts. As a rookie, he was inactive from Nov. 28-Dec. 12 and Jan. 2-9 with quad and shoulder injuries and did not play vs. Dallas (12/19) when he was on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, and this season, injuries continued to be an issue for Toney. He played in the first two games of the season but missed the last five games with hamstring injuries.
At this point of the season, Toney has two catches for zero yards.
“We just thought it was for the best of the team and wish Kadarius well,” coach Brian Daboll said.
Giants RB Saquon Barkley believes Toney is a talented player.
“It’s the NFL,” Barkley said. “Anytime there’s a trade you’re going to be shocked. KT’s a talented player, I wish him nothing but the best of luck in KC.”
Toney, who was the 21st overall in the 2021 draft after trading with the Bears to move back from No. 11, caught 41 passes for 420 yards with no touchdowns.
Toney has ability, and there is a reason why the Giants took him in the first round last season. If he wants to get his career off the ground, he’ll have an excellent opportunity to do it with a great quarterback in Patrick Mahomes.
