Kansas City Chiefs

Summary: Pittsburgh acquired 2026 5th round pick (169th overall, Riley Nowakowski) and 2026 6th round pick (210th overall, Gabriel Rubio) from Kansas City Chiefs for 2026 5th round pick (161st overall, Emmett Johnson) and 2026 7th round pick (249th overall, Garrett Nussmeier). Analysis: This 2026 transaction with Kansas City Chiefs registered as a roughly balanced exchange. Both clubs addressed their stated roster or draft-board priorities without a clear winner emerging from the historical record. The assets involved were comparable in tier and subsequent career value.

Summary: Pittsburgh acquired 2025 5th round pick (164th overall, Yahya Black) and 2025 7th round pick (226th overall, Carson Bruener) from Kansas City Chiefs for 2025 5th round pick (156th overall, Jeffrey Bassa). Analysis: The trade grades against Pittsburgh because the outgoing side carried more durable value, stronger draft upside, or a better long-term return for Kansas City Chiefs. The grade is deliberately conservative because part of the source record is incomplete, conditional, approximate, or still too recent for a firm historical verdict.

Minnesota received 2023 4th round pick (134th overall, Jay Ward) and 2024 5th round pick (167th overall subsequently traded, Keilan Robinson) and sent 2023 4th round pick (119th overall, Chamarri Conner).

Seattle acquired 2022 5th round pick (158th overall, Tyreke Smith); 2022 7th round pick (233rd overall, Dareke Young) from Kansas City Chiefs on 2022-04-30, sending 2022 5th round pick (145th overall, Darian Kinnard) in return. Seattle's side of this 2022 draft-capital exchange was straightforward: the Seahawks received 2022 5th round pick (158th overall, Tyreke Smith); 2022 7th round pick (233rd overall, Dareke Young) and surrendered 2022 5th round pick (145th overall, Darian Kinnard). The C grade reflects the known return, while Kansas City Chiefs's C grade accounts for the countervalue. The trade belongs as a minor database entry because its documented impact was real but not franchise-shaping.

Summary: Pittsburgh acquired 2022 6th round pick (208th overall, Connor Heyward) from Kansas City Chiefs for Melvin Ingram. Analysis: The available record points to a balanced exchange rather than a clear steal. Pittsburgh addressed its roster or draft-board preference, while Kansas City Chiefs received comparable value in return.

Minnesota received 2022 6th round pick (191st overall, Jalen Nailor) and sent Mike Hughes and 2022 7th round pick (233rd overall subsequently traded, Dareke Young).

Minnesota received Mark Fields and sent a conditional 2021 pick (7th-round; not conveyed).

Seattle traded DE Frank Clark to Kansas City for a first-round pick, a future second-rounder, and a pick swap. The compensation was strong on paper, but Seattle failed to turn the haul into comparable impact. Kansas City paid Clark and received meaningful playoff pass-rush moments, including during its Super Bowl run. The Seahawks' C grade reflects the gap between the value collected and the value actually converted from that draft capital.

Seattle acquired Isaiah Battle from Kansas City Chiefs on 2017-09-02, sending a conditional 2018 pick (not conveyed) in return. Seattle's side of this 2017 player-for-player exchange was straightforward: the Seahawks received Isaiah Battle and surrendered a conditional 2018 pick (not conveyed). The B grade reflects the known return, while Kansas City Chiefs's C grade accounts for the countervalue. The trade belongs as a standard database entry because its documented impact was real but not franchise-shaping.

Seattle acquired DJ Alexander from Kansas City Chiefs on 2017-07-28, sending Kevin Pierre-Louis in return. This transaction fits Seattle's broader roster-building record for 2017: targeted asset movement, limited known aftershocks, and no obvious franchise-altering result. The Seahawks' C grade is tied to receiving DJ Alexander while parting with Kevin Pierre-Louis. Kansas City Chiefs's side is graded C because the exchange appears roughly balanced from the available record.

Minnesota received 2017 5th round pick (170th overall, Rodney Adams) and 2017 5th round pick (180th overall, Danny Isidora) and sent 2017 4th round pick (139th overall, Jehu Chesson).

Minnesota received 2017 3rd round pick (104th overall subsequently traded, C.J. Beathard), 2017 4th round pick (132nd overall subsequently traded, Donnel Pumphrey) and 2017 7th round pick (245th overall, Jack Tocho) and sent 2017 3rd round pick (86th overall, Kareem Hunt).

Seattle acquired Kelcie McCray from Kansas City Chiefs on 2015-09-05, sending 2016 5th round pick (162nd overall, Kevin Hogan) in return. This transaction fits Seattle's broader roster-building record for 2015: targeted asset movement, limited known aftershocks, and no obvious franchise-altering result. The Seahawks' B grade is tied to receiving Kelcie McCray while parting with 2016 5th round pick (162nd overall, Kevin Hogan). Kansas City Chiefs's side is graded C because the exchange appears roughly balanced from the available record.

Minnesota received 2015 3rd round pick (80th overall subsequently traded, Alex Carter) and 2015 6th round pick (193rd overall, B.J. Dubose) and sent 2015 3rd round pick (76th overall, Chris Conley).

Minnesota paid a large pick package but landed an elite pass rusher who became one of the franchise’s best defensive players.

Summary: Pittsburgh moved up from 27th to 16th overall, paying a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick to Kansas City to select Troy Polamalu. Polamalu won two Super Bowls, made eight Pro Bowls, and is a Hall of Famer. Analysis: Troy Polamalu was arguably the greatest safety in NFL history and was instrumental in Pittsburgh's Super Bowls in Super Bowls XL and XLIII. Kansas City took Larry Johnson at #27 — a very good running back — but Polamalu's transformative impact on defense, combined with the modest cost of a third and a sixth, makes this one of the best trades in franchise history. A+ stands.

Summary: Jacksonville acquired OG Brenden Stai from Kansas City for a 2001 4th-round pick (George Layne, 108th). Analysis: Stai was a proven veteran lineman coming off solid seasons in Pittsburgh and Kansas City. Spending a mid-round pick for an established offensive guard is reasonable roster-building, though Stai provided only one year of utility in Jacksonville. The trade is fairly valued at C — neither team gained a meaningful edge.

Summary: Pittsburgh acquired Tracy Greene from Kansas City Chiefs for 1996 7th round pick (211th overall, Ben Lynch). Analysis: The available record points to a balanced exchange rather than a clear steal. Pittsburgh addressed its roster or draft-board preference, while Kansas City Chiefs received comparable value in return.

Summary: Jacksonville moved up 12 spots in the 1995 draft, paying three extra picks to select James Stewart 19th overall. Analysis: As an expansion team in its first draft, moving up for an immediate-impact back made roster sense. Stewart was productive early, logging 1,000+ rushing yards in 1997, but the accumulated draft cost (3rd, 4th, 4th) was steep for a player who never became a franchise cornerstone. The Jaguars got real value but overpaid relative to outcome.

Minnesota received Barry Word and sent 1994 fifth round pick (#151-James Burton).

Summary: Pittsburgh acquired Todd Blackledge from Kansas City Chiefs for 1988 fourth round pick (#96-J.R. Ambrose). Analysis: The trade grades against Pittsburgh because the outgoing side carried more durable value, stronger draft upside, or a better long-term return for Kansas City Chiefs.

Denver acquired Tony Reed from Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for 1981 third round pick (#75-Roger Taylor); 1982 fourth round pick (#104-Stuart Anderson). Denver paid draft capital for Tony Reed, making this a targeted personnel acquisition instead of a pure pick shuffle. The Broncos grade of C reflects the balance between immediate roster help and the opportunity cost of the pick sent to Kansas City Chiefs.

Summary: Pittsburgh acquired 1977 fifth round pick (#121-Cliff Stoudt) from Kansas City Chiefs for Tommy Reamon. Analysis: Pittsburgh came away from this 1976 transaction with the stronger side of the exchange. The assets acquired from Kansas City Chiefs provided meaningful roster value — either through direct on-field contribution, draft capital, or positional need addressed — that outpaced what was sent away.

Denver acquired past considerations (?) from Kansas City Chiefs for Billy Masters. This remains a low-scale transaction built around cash, conditional terms, or incomplete draft compensation. It is retained for trade-history completeness, with conservative grades because the verified long-term impact is limited.

Denver acquired 1975 fourth round pick (#84-Steve Taylor (a)) from Kansas City Chiefs for Tom Graham (Lawrence). Denver converted Tom Graham (Lawrence) into draft capital, a practical roster-management decision rather than a franchise-shaping swing. The Broncos grade stays at C because the return was useful but limited, while Kansas City Chiefs lands at C based on the player value it acquired.

Denver acquired Jim Marsalis (later replaced by 1975 fourth round pick (#84-Steve Taylor (a)), 1975 tenth round pick (#240-Hank Engelhardt) when Marsalis failed physical) from Kansas City Chiefs for Tom Drougas; Tom Graham (Lawrence). Best treated as a historical transaction note rather than a fully graded personnel exchange because the record describes a voided, failed-physical, conditional, or non-exercised transaction. It remains useful for database completeness but should not carry the weight of a completed roster-building move.

Summary: Pittsburgh acquired 1975 15th round pick (#371-Jim Thatcher) from Kansas City Chiefs for Tom Keating. Analysis: This 1974 transaction with Kansas City Chiefs registered as a roughly balanced exchange. Both clubs addressed their stated roster or draft-board priorities without a clear winner emerging from the historical record. The assets involved were comparable in tier and subsequent career value.

Summary: Pittsburgh acquired 1975 eighth round pick (#190-Tom Knopp / Tom Kropp / Tom Klopp) from Kansas City Chiefs for Barry Pearson. Analysis: The available record points to a balanced exchange rather than a clear steal. Pittsburgh addressed its roster or draft-board preference, while Kansas City Chiefs received comparable value in return.

Vikings received Ken Best / Keith Best; sent draft pick (?-?).

Denver acquired undisclosed draft pick (?-?) from Kansas City Chiefs for John Wood (a). Denver converted John Wood (a) into draft capital, a practical roster-management decision rather than a franchise-shaping swing. The Broncos grade stays at C because the return was useful but limited, while Kansas City Chiefs lands at C based on the player value it acquired.

Vikings received Mike Eischeid; sent 1973 fourth round pick (#89-John Lohmeyer).

Denver acquired 1970 eighth round pick (#208-Lewis Porter / Lew Porter) from Kansas City Chiefs for 1971 eighth round pick (#191-Mike Sensibaugh). This was primarily a draft-position exchange, with Denver reshaping its pick stack rather than adding an established player. The grades stay conservative because the historical value depends on how the selected players developed after the swap.

Denver and Kansas City Chiefs agreed to a conditional or physical-dependent transaction involving 1970 conditional draft pick (if Abell makes Broncos roster) (not exercised) and Harry Abell / Bud Abell, but the raw record indicates the deal did not fully take effect as originally planned. Because the raw record describes the trade as voided, not exercised, or dependent on conditions that did not materialize, this row is best treated as a historical transaction note rather than a fully graded personnel exchange.

Denver acquired Walter Barnes / Walt Barnes (C.) from Kansas City Chiefs for 1970 eighth round pick (#193-Fred Barry). Denver paid draft capital for Walter Barnes / Walt Barnes (C.), making this a targeted personnel acquisition instead of a pure pick shuffle. The Broncos grade of C reflects the balance between immediate roster help and the opportunity cost of the pick sent to Kansas City Chiefs.

Denver sent Curley Culp to Kansas City for a 1969 fourth-round pick, moving on from a future Hall of Fame defensive tackle before he became a Chiefs cornerstone. The Broncos received modest draft value, but the historical weight sits with Kansas City. Culp developed into a dominant interior defender and eventual Pro Football Hall of Famer after leaving Denver. Even if Denver had not unlocked his value, trading away that caliber of player for a mid-round pick now reads as a missed opportunity inside the division.

Denver acquired 1968 third round pick (#75-Bob Vaughn / Bob Vaughan); 1968 fourth round pick (#102-Drake Garrett); player to be named later (?) from Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for Wendell Hayes; Goldie Sellers. Denver converted Wendell Hayes into draft capital, a practical roster-management decision rather than a franchise-shaping swing. The Broncos grade stays at C because the return was useful but limited, while Kansas City Chiefs lands at C based on the player value it acquired.

Denver acquired Abner Haynes from Kansas City Chiefs for Jim Fraser. Denver swapped Jim Fraser for Abner Haynes, a direct player-value trade with limited evidence of a major long-term swing. The grades remain modest because the available record supports a useful roster exchange, not a clear franchise-changing win.