Chiefs linked to Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. and Titans' Calvin Ridley before trade deadline

Daniel Jones and Derrick Henry top the league's trade-deadline talk, but the Kansas City Chiefs are making calls of their own, and they are calling about wide receivers. SB Nation rounded up the latest ESPN reporting on Sunday. It says the Chiefs remain interested in Jacksonville's Brian Thomas Jr. and are among the teams asking about receivers. The Titans are taking offers on Calvin Ridley.

The interest in Thomas follows a sharp drop in his role. The 2024 first-round pick played just 19 snaps in Jacksonville's Thursday night blowout of Baltimore and did not catch a pass. According to ESPN's Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter, the Jaguars have turned down several inquiries about Thomas in recent years but could now be willing to deal him. Chiefs Wire passed along the insiders' report that Kansas City is "intrigued" by him. If the two sides talk, the price may involve defense. Jacksonville lost defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton for the season with a torn quadriceps, and SB Nation suggests the Jaguars could try to get defensive help back from the Chiefs.

Ridley would be a cheaper option. ESPN reports Tennessee is listening on the veteran and could move him for a late-round pick. The 49ers and Steelers have also called about receivers, though SB Nation notes a longtime Steelers writer doubts Pittsburgh will add one. Kansas City's other main receiver option sits in Indianapolis. Josh Downs has asked for a trade, and the Colts have told teams they have a fourth-round offer in hand after first asking for a third.

The deadline is 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, November 10, according to Heavy. Heavy argues that a team with Kansas City's quarterback and head coach may believe it can get Thomas's career back on track. No deal has been reported, and the Chiefs' interest has not been confirmed as anything more than inquiries.

What it means against the Jets

The timing explains the calls. Kansas City has lost two straight after a 5-0 start. The offense managed three points in a 20-3 loss at Seattle, then fell 28-24 at Denver a week later. That followed five straight wins in which the Chiefs scored at least 22 points each time. They now sit at 5-2 and host the New York Jets on Sunday on CBS, two days before the deadline. Another quiet day from the receivers would only strengthen the case for a move.

The market still has the Chiefs comfortably favored. On this site's board, which tracks 12 venues, Novig has Kansas City at -441 on the moneyline. The best price anywhere is barely different, Polymarket's -439, so the venues agree on who wins. On the spread, Novig lists the Chiefs as 9.5-point favorites at +102. The shortest line elsewhere is -8.5 at theScore Bet, priced at -115. That leaves a one-point gap in how big a margin the venues expect. The total sits at 47.5 on Novig, and BetRivers has 48 for the under. Sportsbook hold runs from about 2.9% to 5.5% across the game's markets.

A win would stop the slide before Tuesday. A loss would put more pressure on the front office to act. Follow the Chiefs' season here as the deadline approaches.