Kansas City Chiefs–New England Patriots Trade History

Dallas Texans received rights to Bill Hull in the 1962-03-26 exchange with New England Patriots. The Dallas Texans received the rights to Bill Hull, who played for the 1962 Dallas AFL club and gave the franchise a legitimate return from the exchange. The direct package is the basis for the hindsight grade, with later movement of an acquired selection treated separately. That supports New England Patriots Win.

Kansas City sent tackle Gerry DeLucca to Boston on April 12, 1963 for a future high draft choice. Chiefs and Patriots histories connect the return to Boston's 1964 twelfth-round selection, No. 93, which Kansas City used on Jack Adams. Boston gets the slight edge because it bought veteran line help for a very late selection. Kansas City did recover a pick, so the deal was not costly, but the Patriots received the more immediate and identifiable football value.

Kansas City Chiefs received 1967 2nd round pick (47th overall, Jim Lynch) and cash in the 1964-12-30 exchange with New England Patriots. Jim Lynch became a 151-game Chiefs linebacker, a Super Bowl IV starter and a Chiefs Hall of Honor member. That gives Kansas City Chiefs the stronger overall return.

Kansas City sent halfback Ron Burton to Boston for linebacker-punter Jim Fraser on January 29, 1966. Boston's own media guide describes Fraser as arriving from Kansas City in exchange for Burton, closing the player-for-player package. Boston wins because Fraser contributed for a full season while Burton never reached the Chiefs' regular-season roster. Kansas City traded away a useful veteran and received no game value in return, making the outcome fairly decisive.

Kansas City sent running back Gene Thomas to Boston on June 11, 1968, for the Patriots’ 1969 fourth-round selection, No. 84 overall. The Chiefs later used that same pick in the deal that brought Curley Culp from Denver, turning the asset into a future Hall of Fame defensive lineman. That downstream value gives Kansas City the edge even though the original return was only a fourth-round choice.

New England acquired tight end Willie Scott from Kansas City on July 22, 1986 for a 1987 eighth-round pick that became No. 218, Michael Clemons. Scott played 26 games for the Patriots across three seasons and caught four touchdowns, providing immediate rotational value. Clemons appeared in eight games for Kansas City in 1987, mostly as a returner, so New England received the more substantial contribution.

Kansas City sent New England the 112th pick in 1995 for a 1996 third-rounder. The Patriots selected center Dave Wohlabaugh, who became an immediate starter and a very good player. Kansas City waited a year and used No. 68 on defensive lineman John Browning, who spent nine seasons with the Chiefs, played 121 games, started 96 and recorded 27.5 sacks. Both sides won; Kansas City's longevity wins narrowly.

Kansas City acquired Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel from New England for the 34th pick in the 2009 draft. Cassel became a Pro Bowler while leading the 2010 Chiefs to an AFC West title, and Vrabel supplied two seasons of veteran leadership. New England used No. 34 on Patrick Chung, who became a long-term defensive starter and three-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots, giving New England the stronger lasting return.

Kansas City traded safety Jarrad Page to New England for a 2012 seventh-round pick that became Junior Hemingway. Page spent only one season with the Patriots and made a handful of starts. Hemingway developed into a three-year Chiefs receiver and special-teams contributor, appearing in more than 30 games. Neither side gained a major player, but Kansas City received the longer team-specific contribution from a low-cost future pick.

Kansas City sent tight end James O'Shaughnessy and pick No. 216 to New England for pick No. 183 in 2017, then selected linebacker Ukeme Eligwe. Eligwe appeared in 14 games with one start as a Chiefs rookie and recorded a sack. New England waived O'Shaughnessy and Conor McDermott, the player it later moved up to select with the pick path involving No. 216, before either played a regular-season snap for the Patriots.

Kansas City sent New England picks No. 233 and No. 243 to move up to No. 198 and select Kahlil McKenzie. Kansas City surrendered two seventh-round picks to move up for Kahlil McKenzie, a college defensive lineman the Chiefs converted to guard. McKenzie never became a regular-season contributor for Kansas City. New England used one acquired pick on Keion Crossen, who contributed on special teams and later brought additional value in a trade, while the other pick was moved again. The Patriots realized more.

Kansas City Chiefs received 2022 7th round pick (243rd overall, Jaylen Watson) from New England Patriots. Watson developed into a meaningful Chiefs defensive back and produced important postseason plays during a championship stretch, far exceeding typical seventh-round expectations. The A grade reflects the direct value Kansas City Chiefs realized from the transaction, with the final Kansas City Chiefs Win call based on actual service and clearly traceable draft outcomes rather than projected value.

Kansas City traded picks No. 29, No. 94 and No. 121 to New England to move up to No. 21 for cornerback Trent McDuffie. McDuffie became a championship cornerstone, winning two Super Bowls with Kansas City and earning consecutive All-Pro recognition. New England received Cole Strange and additional draft capital, but none of that return approached McDuffie's elite value at a premium position.

New England moved up from No. 54 to No. 50 in the 2022 draft for wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, sending Kansas City the 54th and 158th picks. The Chiefs selected Skyy Moore at No. 54. Neither receiver became a consistent starter for his drafting club, but Moore contributed a crucial touchdown in Kansas City's Super Bowl LVII victory. That championship moment gives the Chiefs a modest edge.

Kansas City acquired edge rusher Josh Uche from New England for a future sixth-round pick, adding low-cost pass-rush depth for a championship run. Uche's role with the Chiefs remained limited, so the Patriots ultimately converted a player nearing free agency into draft capital without surrendering meaningful long-term production. The gap is small, but New England's retained asset gives it the better hindsight result.

Kansas City moved from No. 95 to No. 85 for cornerback Nohl Williams, sending New England the later third-round pick plus a 2026 fourth. Williams contributed immediately with 44 tackles, seven passes defensed and a sack. New England answered with Jared Wilson, who started 13 regular-season games and all four postseason contests as a rookie, while also retaining the extra fourth as trade capital. That combination gives the Patriots a narrow edge.

Kansas City moved from picks No. 251 and No. 257 to No. 228 and selected Brashard Smith. Smith contributed 151 rushing yards and 172 receiving yards as a rookie. New England used No. 251 on long snapper Julian Ashby, who handled every regular-season game and all four postseason contests, while Kobee Minor supplied depth from No. 257. Both clubs found useful late-round roles, making the exchange remarkably balanced.