Chiefs reportedly letting WR Kadarius Toney go before deadline after tough 2023 season

Kadarius Toney’s time with the Kansas City Chiefs is over.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Chiefs released Toney on Tuesday afternoon, ahead of the NFL’s draft deadline.

Toney appeared in 13 games for the Chiefs last season, but he only recorded 169 yards and a single touchdown on 27 catches. The Chiefs first traded Toney during the 2022 season in a deal with the New York Giants, who selected him with the 20th overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Florida.

Toney had some notable miscues with the Chiefs last season. He dropped a number of passes, including one that was intercepted for a touchdown in their one-point loss to the Detroit Lions in their season opener and another on the final drive of that game. He also scored the game-winning touchdown after catching a lateral from tight end Travis Kelce in their game against the Buffalo Bills last fall, but the play was called back after he was ruled offside — leading to the Chiefs losing that game.

Toney also had a pass intercepted on a deflection the following week, which was his final game of the year for the Chiefs. He didn’t play at all during their Super Bowl run, and the Chiefs declined to pick up the fifth-year option on his contract earlier this offseason.

Toney also clashed with the Chiefs on social media during their championship run last season. He was sidelined for multiple games with a hip injury, but Toney said in a short Instagram Live clip that the Chiefs were lying about his injuries. Head coach Andy Reid denied those claims, which Toney later retracted.

It’s unclear where Toney will land next, or if he’ll find a new team before the season starts. The 25-year-old has 760 receiving yards and three total touchdowns in his three seasons in the league.

The Chiefs, who have won the Super Bowl back-to-back, open their season on September 5 against the Baltimore Ravens.