Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt has issued a clear recommendation for the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the NFL trade deadline: go get a true "X-type" wide receiver to revitalize an increasingly restricted offense.
Speaking on CBS Sports' "Set Hut" show, Watt singled out New York Jets star wide receiver Garrett Wilson as the ideal candidate to give Patrick Mahomes the downfield playmaker the Chiefs currently lack.
Kansas City's passing game has lacked consistency, particularly in making plays downfield. The injury to Tyquan Thornton, who dislocated his ankle and is expected to be sidelined into the postseason, has made the situation even more difficult for the Chiefs.
Xavier Worthy has also faced questions about his route running and ability to make contested catches. As a result, Mahomes has often been forced to rely on shorter passes, putting more responsibility on Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce, and Noah Gray.
Watt believes the Chiefs need a receiver who can stretch the field and give their quarterback another reliable option outside.
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"I think Garrett could definitely help a team," Watt said. "I do think the Kansas City Chiefs need some sort of big physical presence wide receiver, an X-type who can go out there and absolutely stretch the field and open things up for them because right now, as we've seen, everything is short.
"Absolutely everything is short behind the line of scrimmage, these short little dump offs and they're relying so heavily on Kenneth Walker, who's been great, but they just need somebody to help open up that offense since Tyquan Thornton went down and they just don't have it."
Wilson would certainly give Kansas City the type of receiver Watt believes it needs.
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The Jets' wideout has been productive this season, recording 43 receptions for 527 yards and three touchdowns through eight games. He also holds an 81.3 PFN WR Impact Grade , ranking 14th among NFL wide receivers.
However, getting the Jets to trade away their star receiver won't be easy. New York, currently third in the AFC East, has made it clear that Wilson remains an important part of its long-term plans.
The team recently signed him to a four-year, $130 million contract extension that keeps him under contract through 2030. Moving Wilson would also leave New York with a reported $31.2 million dead cap hit, making a trade even less attractive financially.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
