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The Kansas City Chiefs trading for Miami Dolphins RB De’Von Achane would inject speed into their offense.
If one thing has been made clear by the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason, it’s that they know improvement must happen at running back. With multiple internal pieces hitting free agency and even more external options being available, it’s time to add talent.
General manager Brett Veach understands that 2025-26’s room wasn’t good enough. It’s expected that change will occur via free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft, but might a trade make sense?
One outlet believes Kansas City should ask the Miami Dolphins about star halfback De’Von Achane.
Chiefs Dubbed Potential Team Trade Fit for Dolphins RB De’Von Achane
In a February 25 story for ESPN, Dan Graziano and Ben Solak outlined the top 15 trade candidates this offseason. In their article, Achane made the cut and was ranked second.
Solak defines Achane as someone with “game-breaking speed, high-volume receiving ability” and more. The duo predicts his chances of being moved at 10%, with the Chiefs, Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings listed as potential team fits.
Graziano doesn’t believe Achane will be moved, but that shouldn’t stop teams from inquiring.
“The league seems to believe the Dolphins are in a full rebuild, which means they’re getting calls on all of their star players,” Graziano wrote. “My sense is that they’re far more likely to extend Achane’s contract than to listen to those trade offers, but in their situation, you answer the phone when it rings. So, call any Achane trade a significant long shot that would take an awfully enticing package to get done.”
With a new head coach at the helm, the Dolphins are undoubtedly retooling for the future. The plan for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remains uncertain at best, so it’s reasonable to part ways with some other pieces. Former Chiefs wideout Tyreek Hill is a prime example of someone the team deemed no longer a need to have in town.
Achane presents an interesting dynamic. On one hand, he’s still very young (24) and is emerging as one of the game’s brightest stars. On the other hand, he’ll soon need to be compensated as such. If the Dolphins have no desire to extend his contract, eventually trading him becomes more sensible.
There’s been minimal indication of that, though. If the possibility ever grows legs, should the Chiefs be interested?
Is Achane a Quality Option Should Kansas City Desire Trade?
It’s hard to say no. Achane, a third-round pick back in 2023, has more than justified his draft slot. The former Texas A&M standout flashed immense upside as a rookie, which has only turned into realized star-level production since then. In 17 games in 2024, he rushed for 907 yards and 6 touchdowns while adding 592 yards and 6 receiving scores through the air. As it turns out, that was just the tip of the iceberg.
Last season saw Achane blossom into a true lead halfback. In 16 starts, he rushed for a career-high 1,350 yards and 8 touchdowns. His average of 5.7 yards per carry led the sport. Additionally, Achane hauled in 67 passes on 85 targets for 488 yards and 4 more receiving touchdowns. A whopping 1,838 scrimmage yards and 12 scores got him his first-ever Pro Bowl nod.
Advanced metrics also loved what Achane did in 2025-26. Not only did he average 3.0 yards after contact per rush, but that number rose to 8.2 in the receiving game. According to SumerSports, among running backs with 100+ carries, no one posted a higher explosive rush share than his 13.45% mark. In that same 49-player field, his 19.41% target share ranked third.
Boasting 4.32-second 40-yard dash speed, Achane is a blur. He accelerates quickly, is elusive and can make defenders miss. Once he reaches the open field, not many are capable of keeping up with him. Regardless of where he plays football in his fourth season, he’ll be a massive plus for an offense.
All of that for an estimated $6.1 million hit against the salary cap makes acquiring Achane an extremely intriguing hypothetical to consider.
Jordan Foote is a seasoned sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com with an emphasis on the Kansas City Chiefs. He has years of experience publishing NFL and MLB content for Sports Illustrated’s On SI vertical, in addition to a background in NBA coverage for multiple outlets. Foote is a Baker University alumnus, earning his degree in Mass Media. He’s based in Kansas City. More about Jordan Foote
