Bills trade with Chiefs, explained: Why Buffalo helped rival add Tyreek Hill speed with Xavier Worthy pick

Bills trade with Chiefs, explained: Why Buffalo helped rival add Tyreek Hill speed with Xavier Worthy pick

The Chiefs have ended Buffalo’s season three times in the past four years, and the Bills made a draft-night trade that could end up helping Kansas City do it again in the future.

Buffalo traded back with the Chiefs in the 2024 NFL Draft, sending the No. 28 pick and two later picks, to the Chiefs for Kansas City’s first-round selection (No. 32,  as well as a pick upgrade in the middle rounds and in the seventh. With that pick, the Chiefs selected Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy, a player widely believed to be a top target for Kansas City heading into the draft.

The pick appears to make plenty of sense for the Chiefs. Even while winning back-to-back Super Bowls, Kansas City has struggled to give Patrick Mahomes explosive weapons at wide receiver, with last year’s second-round pick Rashee Rice being the clear top wideout in the offense.

Though there are questions about Worthy, he’s the fastest player in the draft and will immediately add a speed element long-since missing from the Chiefs’ offense.

So, why would the Bills make a move to help the Chiefs? Here’s what you need to know.

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Bills-Chiefs trade details

• Chiefs receive: 2024 first (No. 28), 2024 fourth (No. 133), 2024 seventh (No. 248)
• Bills receive: 2024 first (No. 32), 2024 third (No. 95), 2024 seventh (No. 221)

Like the Chiefs, the Bills are looking for wide receivers. Buffalo traded Stefon Diggs to the Texans and watched Gabe Davis walk in free agency. The Bills have signed Curtis Samuel, but still lack standout receivers for Josh Allen.

Many expected Buffalo to make a move up to try and land Brian Thomas Jr., the clear fourth receiver in the draft class, but Thomas was drafted 23rd overall by the Jaguars, taking the top receiver off the board.

Beyond Thomas, there is some debate over the next wide receivers in the class, with the next tier believed to consist of a wide variety of names.

Worthy wound up going off the board, as did Florida’s Ricky Pearsall at pick No. 31, and South Carolina’s Xavier Legette at pick No. 32 after the Bills traded back with the Panthers. There are still plenty of standout receivers, including Adonai Mitchell, Keon Coleman, Ladd McConkey, Ja’Lynn Polk, Jalen McMillan, and Troy Franklin, among others, left on the board.

Though the Bills might have helped the Chiefs, Buffalo also added plenty of draft capital in the trade and gave itself more picks to bolster a roster that has been increasingly feeling the pressure of several expensive players.

MORE: Best players left ahead of NFL draft Round 2

Bills draft picks

• Round 2: Nos. 33, 60
• Round 3: No. 95
• Round 4: No. 128
• Round 5: Nos. 141, 144, 160, 163
• Round 6: No. 204
• Round 7: No. 221

The Bills waited all of a few minutes before trading the Chiefs’ pick to the Panthers to give Buffalo officially no first-round picks in the 2024 class. But it also moved back only one spot with Carolina to No. 33 and turned a fourth-round pick (No. 133) into a third-round pick (No. 95).

Buffalo’s strategy is clearly to stock up on picks, counting on the impressive depth of wide receivers making up for trading away two picks that also wound up being used on pass-catchers.

Xavier Worthy 40 time

Worthy set the NFL combine record with a 4.21-second time in the 40-yard dash, breaking John Ross’ record of 4.22 seconds.

That impressive speed alone will undoubtedly strike fear in the hearts of foes given the pairing with his speed and Mahomes’ considerable arm talent. Though he is not a direct comparison with the smaller, more physical Tyreek Hill, the speed similarities will undoubtedly evoke plenty of comparisons.

And Mahomes is clearly excited about the pick.

Tyreek Hill 40 time

Hill did not participate in the NFL combine, but at South Alabama’s pro day, he posted a 40 time of 4.29 seconds.

Of course, today, he is widely viewed as the fastest wide receiver in the NFL, as his speed has hit new levels since arriving in the pros.