Novig prices
Chiefs among teams that pursued Jets receiver Garrett Wilson before trade deadline
ESPN reports the Chiefs and 49ers wanted Jets receiver Garrett Wilson before the Nov. 10 deadline, but New York never planned to move him.
The Kansas City Chiefs tried to land Garrett Wilson before the November 10 trade deadline, but the New York Jets were never going to deal their top receiver. That account comes from ESPN's Rich Cimini. SB Nation's Behind the Steel Curtain picked it up while knocking down speculation that tied Pittsburgh to Wilson. According to the reporting, the Steelers were not part of the chase. The two teams that showed interest were Kansas City and San Francisco.
In his ESPN review of New York's quiet deadline, Cimini wrote that "a trade never was a realistic possibility" for Wilson. He reported that Wilson did not want to leave and the Jets did not want to give up a player many see as their best. Bleacher Report added that the Jets consider him a foundational piece. Yardbarker pointed to the four-year, $130 million extension that keeps him in New York. ESPN reported the Jets would only trade players on expiring contracts, even though the team was 2-7.
The deadline has passed, so the report doesn't change Kansas City's roster. What it shows is that the front office was looking for a true No. 1 receiver and was willing to go after one. The Chiefs will now have to get there with the group they already have. On recent form, that group is producing. The Chiefs beat these same Jets 35-12 last time out, and they have scored 202 points through eight games while allowing 143.
What it means for Atlanta
Kansas City is 6-2 and plays at the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, November 15, on CBS. The 35-12 win over New York stopped a two-game slide: a 20-3 loss at Seattle, then a 28-24 loss at Denver. The Chiefs are 4-0 at home and 2-2 on the road. Their road wins came at Miami (24-10) and Las Vegas (30-27). Given how the losses in Seattle and Denver went, Sunday's trip is the next real read on this offense away from Arrowhead.
The market sees the Chiefs as the better team. On this site's board, which tracks 12 venues, Kansas City is favored at -167 on the moneyline at Novig, with Atlanta at +163. Novig's spread has the Chiefs at -3.5, priced at +117. The best price anywhere on Kansas City's side is at Pinnacle: -111 with the line at -3. That half point matters because a three-point margin is common in football. Novig sets the total at 47.5, priced at -100 on the over. BetMGM has the best over price at -112 on 47. The venues are close on this game. Sportsbook hold runs from 2.9% to 4.5% on the moneyline, 3.1% to 5.5% on the spread and 4.0% to 5.0% on the total.
The following week, the Arizona Cardinals come to Kansas City, and the prices are much more lopsided. The Chiefs are -1233 at Novig and -1000 at DraftKings. Arizona is +567 at Novig and +750 at bet365. The spread sits at 14 to 14.5 points.
Wilson stays in New York, and Kansas City's search for a top receiver will have to wait until the offseason. More on the season is on the Chiefs team page.