Kansas City acquired Kadarius Toney from the Giants for a…
Kansas City acquired Kadarius Toney from the Giants for a 2023 compensatory third and sixth-round pick. Toney never became a dependable regular-season receiver, but his touchdown and Super Bowl-record 65-yard punt return were pivotal in the Chiefs' Super Bowl LVII victory. New York used the third-round asset to acquire Darren Waller and drafted Tre Hawkins with the sixth. Waller lasted one Giants season. The championship impact shifts the trade toward Kansas City.
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- player Kadarius Toney
New York Giants Received
- pick 2023 3rd round pick (100th overall subsequently traded, Tre Tucker )
- pick 2023 6th round pick (209th overall, Tre Hawkins)
Trade Analysis
Kansas City acquired Kadarius Toney from the Giants in October 2022 for a 2023 compensatory third-round pick and a 2023 sixth. The Chiefs were betting that Andy Reid's offense could unlock a talented former first-round receiver whose New York tenure had been derailed by injuries and inconsistency. The Giants chose to move on early in Toney's second season.
Toney never became a reliable volume receiver in Kansas City. He caught 14 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns in seven regular-season games after the trade, then 27 passes for only 169 yards and one touchdown in 2023. Injuries, drops and availability issues prevented him from securing a lasting role, and Kansas City waived him before the 2024 season.
Yet his Super Bowl LVII impact makes the trade unusual. Toney caught a fourth-quarter touchdown against Philadelphia and later produced a 65-yard punt return, then the longest punt return in Super Bowl history, setting Kansas City up inside the Eagles' five-yard line for another touchdown. In a 38-35 championship game, those plays carry far more value than his regular-season totals suggest.
New York received real but limited value. The Giants sent the compensatory third-round pick, No. 100, to Las Vegas for tight end Darren Waller rather than using it on the player ultimately drafted at that slot. Waller caught 52 passes for 552 yards and one touchdown in 12 games for New York in 2023, then retired the next offseason. The sixth-round pick became cornerback Tre Hawkins, who provided depth and some starting snaps.
The existing Giants B+/Chiefs C grades miss the championship context. Kansas City should rise to B+ because Toney made two direct, high-leverage plays in a Super Bowl victory even though his tenure was otherwise disappointing. New York falls to C+ because Waller lasted one season and Hawkins did not create equivalent impact. Kansas City wins narrowly on the extraordinary value of the championship performance.