Analyzing Kansas City's Best Trade Options with the 18th Pick in NFL Draft

With the NFL draft less than three months away and the season officially over for all 32 teams, all NFL franchises will look to find ways to improve this offseason. For the Kansas City Chiefs, they own the 18th pick in the first round. Although it is not a top-10 draft pick, plenty of talented players slip through the midway point of the first round.

In terms of wide receivers, a position the Chiefs desperately need help at, Brandin Cooks was taken 20th by the New Orleans Saints while Kelvin Benjamin slipped to the 28th spot for the Carolina Panthers in last year's draft.

Even if the Chiefs come away with a viable starting wide receiver in free agency, they must snag one in the first round of the draft.

Looking at NFL.com’s mock drafts, Dorial Green-Beckham, Jaelen Strong, Devin Smith and Devin Funchess are wide receivers who are expected to be available by the time the Chiefs are on the clock with the 18th pick. However, what if general manager John Dorsey is skeptical about those wide receivers?

Trade for Andre Johnson

Several reports came out last summer that Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson wanted to be traded, but he is still on the team. After a setback this past season, could the Chiefs make a move and possibly bring in Johnson?

Johnson does turn 34 in July, but he still pulled in 85 catches for 936 yards and three touchdowns in 2014 to add to his prolific career.

Trade up into the top 10

If Dorsey really wants to get a high-profile wide receiver in Amari Cooper or Kevin White, perhaps a trade with the New York Jets (sixth) or the Atlanta Falcons (eighth) is something to consider.

Dorsey would have to create a package deal in which he would send the 18th pick plus wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, which would then free up some cap space for the team.

Both the Falcons and Jets are in need of a wide receiver, but providing Bowe and the first-round pick gives them a chance to be flexible. It may be a chance worth taking for those two teams if one believes it can get Bowe to rebound in his career.

What if Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston is available?

We have seen some highly touted quarterbacks fall further than projected in recent memory. Brady Quinn went 22nd in 2007, Tim Tebow was taken 25th in 2010, Geno Smith went all the way into the early part of the second round in 2013 and Johnny Manziel was taken 22nd in last year’s draft.

So it is possible that we see a quarterback get passed on by many teams for the third year in a row, and more likely with Marcus Mariota.

If Mariota happens to be available when the Chiefs are on the clock, the team must forgo taking him.

The Chiefs opened up the checkbook for Alex Smith before the 2014 regular season, giving him a four-year deal worth $68 million.

If Mariota is available and Dorsey does not think the available wide receivers are worth taking with the 18th pick, surely trading the pick to a team interested in a quarterback will gauge plenty of interest.

Overall, the chances of a trade are unlikely. A good wide receiver is expected to be on the board by the time it is Kansas City's turn to select a player. At that point, there is no reason to hesitate. It is no secret the Chiefs need multiple wide receivers to help create a three-dimensional offense.

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