The hints are adding up for Kadarius Toney and the Chiefs.
The Chiefs declined to pick up Toney’s fifth-year option, making the upcoming season his final one under contract with the team.
The decision comes on the heels of Toney, 25, not playing in the postseason as the Chiefs won their second straight Super Bowl.
Perhaps even more ominous for Toney was the team’s decision to sign Marquise Brown and trade up in the 2024 NFL Draft last week to select Texas’ Xavier Worthy, two receivers who bring a similar skillset as Toney.
“I don’t think we ever stopped believing in him,” Chiefs GM Brett Veach said before the draft, according to ESPN.com.
“I think people around the building like him. It’s the injury bug. Hopefully, he gets some luck on his side and can stay healthy and can be the player that he was at Florida and the player that we’ve seen in spurts here. I’m just hoping he has a good offseason and has a little luck on his side and can stay healthy.”
Toney’s future with the team was called into question when he went on an expletive-filled rant on an Instagram Live video during the AFC Championship Game, seemingly accusing the team of lying about his hip injury as the reason he wasn’t active.
He was subsequently inactive for the Super Bowl win over the 49ers but did celebrate with teammates afterward.
The Giants traded Toney to the Chiefs before the 2022 deadline after a tumultuous stint with the team.
Toney had an impact in his first season in Kansas City, scoring a touchdown and having a long punt return that helped the Chiefs rally past the Eagles.
However, that did not translate into success last season as he was plagued by drops in the season-opening loss to the Lions and battled injuries.
Toney is not alone, however, as many teams have opted not to pick up the fifth-year options on players as the deadline approaches.
