The Chiefs Should Trade This Player While They Still Can

The Kansas City Chiefs are flying high, finally being named the Super Bowl champions again after a long wait. However, it's tougher to stay on top than it is to get there. Opponents have their matchups with the Chiefs circled on their schedules, so they will need to make the adjustments to stay on top. One of these adjustments is making tough roster moves. Some of which are thinking two moves ahead instead of the moment.

One of these moves that they should make is trading veteran linebacker Anthony Hitchens, while they still can.

Hitchens has been a starter in the NFL for six seasons, with the past two being in Kansas City after beginning his career with the Dallas Cowboys. He has been up and down during his two seasons with the Chiefs. He has totaled 223 tackles, with 11 coming for a loss.

However, he has also allowed an 85.5 percent and 77.5 percent completion rate when targeted in coverage over the past two seasons, respectively, He has often been a player opposing quarterbacks can pick on, targeting players against him 109 times during the past two seasons.

The Chiefs drafted Willie Gay Jr. in the 2020 NFL Draft. Even if Hitchens remains on the team, it's possible Gay wins the starting job, making Hitchens an overpaid backup. Luckily, he could be an attractive trade target.

Hitchens has three years left on his contract, taking him up to the point he turns 30 years old. This means a team could presumably get him during the best years of his career, and trading for him would acquire his right for multiple seasons, instead of just being a rental.

The Chiefs are also in a tight cap situation. If they are able to move Hitchens, they would clear over $10 million each season, giving the team a lot more flexibility for contract negotiations with some of their important offensive players.

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