Chiefs Trade Wanya Morris to Falcons for 2027 Pick Swap

Q: Is trading for an injured Wanya Morris a shrewd depth move or a sign of desperation for Atlanta?

It looks more like a shrewd, low-cost depth move than desperation. Atlanta’s need is real. Kaleb McGary’s retirement left a hole at tackle, Storm Norton has been sidelined since last season, and Jawaan Taylor has missed voluntary OTAs. With Kevin Stefanski and Tommy Rees expected to use more under-center concepts, tackle depth matters even more. In that context, adding a 25-year-old with starting experience is a practical response, not a panic move. The price also points that way. Atlanta reportedly gave up only a 2027 sixth-round pick and got Morris plus a 2027 seventh back. That is a modest investment for a player who has started 16 NFL games and has experience in a high-level system. If he is healthy enough to compete, the Falcons are essentially buying a developmental swing tackle with upside at minimal cost. The risk is obvious. Morris is coming off a season-ending left knee injury and was wearing a brace in offseason work. His Chiefs tenure was uneven, especially in pass protection, and he had fallen down Kansas City’s depth chart. His PFF grades in 2024 were poor, and penalties were an issue. That makes him far from a reliable answer if Atlanta needs a full-time starter. So this is sensible if the Falcons view Morris as depth and competition, not a fix. It becomes a sign of desperation only if Atlanta is counting on him to solve its tackle problem by himself.

Q: By trading Morris, are the Chiefs overconfident in their unproven offensive tackle depth?

Not necessarily, but the trade does increase the risk if Kansas City’s top two tackles miss time. The Chiefs did not move on from a reliable starter. Morris had largely disappointed over three seasons, struggled in pass protection, was penalized often, and had fallen down the depth chart. Reports indicated he was behind Jaylon Moore, Chukwuebuka Godrick and rookie Kahlil Benson in minicamp, and Kansas City and Morris had mutually explored a trade. In that context, flipping him for a modest draft-pick upgrade while saving about $1.48 million against the cap looks more like a roster decision than blind confidence. Still, the concern is real because the remaining depth is largely unproven. Josh Simmons and Jaylon Moore project as the starters, but both come with availability questions. Behind them, the Chiefs are counting on players such as Esa Pole, Benson, Godrick and Matt Waletzko. Pole showed promise in limited 2025 action, allowing only one sack in 275 snaps, and coaches have praised Benson’s tools, but neither has established himself over a full season. So the trade is defensible if Kansas City truly believes Morris was no longer one of its best tackle options. But it also leaves the Chiefs thinner in experienced depth at a position that has already been a problem when injuries hit. The move is less a sign of overconfidence than a bet that upside from younger options will outweigh the value of keeping a flawed, more experienced backup.

3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Jun 11

Kansas City agreed to send offensive tackle Wanya Morris to Atlanta for a 2027 sixth-round pick while shipping back a 2027 seventh-rounder.
Morris had wanted out, and reports earlier this week said he and the Chiefs were exploring trade options after he slipped on the club's tackle depth chart.
The 25-year-old started 11 games in 2024 and 16 across 43 appearances for Kansas City after arriving as a 2023 third-round pick.
Atlanta adds Morris after right tackle Kaleb McGary retired, giving the Falcons another option alongside Jake Matthews, Jawaan Taylor, Storm Norton, Michael Jerrell and Jack Nelson.