Kadarius Toney was cut from Chiefs. KC’s GM hinted at significant reason for that

The Kansas City Chiefs cut Kadarius Toney this week, and general manager Brett Veach believes the receiver likely has some regrets.

During a conference call with reporters Thursday, Veach hinted that the fourth-year pro Toney did not show up physically ready for the team’s training camp in July.

“I’m certainly sure that there would be things that he would do different, in regards to just some of the offseason stuff and taking care of the body,” Veach said. “But again, I think it’s a process. He’s a really smart kid, and I do think he’ll figure it out. And I think he’ll end up making plays for a team down the road here.”

Toney, 25, has historically battled injuries, though Veach said some have been out of his control. An example: Toney tore cartilage in his knee during 2023’s first full-squad training camp workout. Veach described that scenario as “just unfortunate.”

During this year’s training camp, however, Toney was in and out of practice with an ankle issue — one that Veach seemed to indicate could’ve been prevented.

“Sometimes you can make some bad luck turn into good luck by just doing some little things in the offseason, take care of your body. And I think that’s a process he’s working through,” Veach said. “And again, it’s certainly not for a lack of talent. That’s a situation where I think, when you move on from players like that, I think everyone feels disappointed.”

The Chiefs traded a third- and sixth-round pick in October 2022 to acquire Toney from the New York Giants. It was widely seen as a buy-low move, as Toney was just more than a year removed from being the 20th selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.

He produced some of the team’s greatest highlights over the next few months. That included the play Chiefs fans will most remember him for — a Super Bowl-record 65-yard punt return against the Philadelphia Eagles that set up a touchdown in the Chiefs’ 38-35 victory.

Toney battled issues with drops and injuries the next season, then had this year’s underwhelming training camp before he was released Tuesday.

“We’re certainly disappointed. I think he’s disappointed,” Veach said. “I mean, we really like the kid, and I know that people could have different takes on Kadarius. But I know in this building, he’s a bright kid. He’s a smart kid.”

Toney was in the last year of his rookie deal this season, meaning the Chiefs didn’t get the full value out of him they might’ve expected earlier.

Still, when asked if he’d make the trade again knowing what he does now, Veach was definitive.

“I don’t think we’re sitting here going for a third straight Super Bowl had we not made that trade,” Veach said. “So from that standpoint, do it all over again in a heartbeat.”

Perhaps most frustrating, Veach said, was how this relationship was ending. It’s easier to accept when a player loses a step because he gets older or has a severe injury — or if he simply doesn’t have the talent needed to stick in the NFL.

None of those apply to Toney.

“I think when you have to move on from a player, and the full product or the finished product — or un-tapping all that talent — wasn’t realized, there’s a disappointment,” Veach said. “And I think it goes both ways.”

Veach seemed like he’d still be rooting for Toney’s future success. He said Thursday that he enjoyed the receiver while saying he was “a lot of fun to be around.”

“I don’t think that we’ve seen the end of him, and I think he’ll have a chance,” Veach said. “And I think if he’s able to tighten up some of the offseason stuff and get his body right, I think he’ll go out there and make a ton of plays for another team.”