Kansas City acquired Reggie Ragland from Buffalo for a 2019…
Kansas City acquired Reggie Ragland from Buffalo for a 2019 fourth-round pick. Ragland became a regular Chiefs linebacker, starting 32 games over three seasons and remaining on the roster for the Super Bowl LIV championship year. Buffalo later packaged the acquired No. 131 selection with pick No. 112 to move up for Dawson Knox, who became a long-term starting tight end and Pro Bowler. Both sides created meaningful value.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 2019 4th round pick (131st overall subsequently traded, Wes Martin )
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- player Reggie Ragland
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Buffalo traded linebacker Reggie Ragland to Kansas City before the 2017 season for a 2019 fourth-round selection that became pick No. 131. Ragland had missed his entire rookie year with a knee injury and no longer fit Buffalo's new defensive direction. The Chiefs needed inside-linebacker help and were willing to wait for the former second-round pick to settle into their system.
Why Kansas City Got Real Value
Ragland became more than a camp acquisition. He played 42 regular-season games for Kansas City, started 32 and supplied physical run defense over three seasons. His role decreased by the 2019 championship season, but he remained part of the roster that won Super Bowl LIV. For the price of a future fourth, Kansas City received multiple years of starting-caliber snaps from a player Buffalo was prepared to move. That immediate certainty mattered for a contender building toward a championship window.
How Buffalo Used the Pick
Buffalo also extracted meaningful value. In the 2019 draft, the Bills paired pick No. 131 with No. 112 to move to No. 96 and select tight end Dawson Knox. Because another fourth-round choice was required, the entire Knox career cannot be credited to the Ragland trade alone. Still, No. 131 was an essential part of the move, and Knox developed into a long-term Bills starter and a Pro Bowl selection.
Final Verdict
Both teams earn a B. Kansas City received three seasons from Ragland and a championship-year contributor; Buffalo transformed its pick into part of a successful move for Knox. Even Trade.