Chiefs Make Deadline Deal

At the conclusion of Tuesdays' NFL trade deadline, the Kansas City Chiefs slipped a deal in just under the wire. The move sends one of their 2009 NFL draft picks to Tampa Bay.

Last year defensive end Alex Magee made little impact on the Chiefs struggling defense. This year with the addition of Shaun Smith via free agency and the development of former first round picks Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson, Kansas City had no room for last years third round draft pick from Purdue.

The move is a bit surprising when you consider the team gave up on Magee so quickly. But he wasn't getting on the field and right now the Chiefs have plenty of depth to facilitate his departure.

Even with Jackson sidelined with a knee injury the last four games, Magee found himself behind Wallace Gilberry and Anthony Toribio, who the team picked up on waivers from Green Bay in August.

Adalius Thomas would be a logical addition to the Kansas City Chiefs roster.
Getty Images

The deal according to ESPN sends Magee to Tampa Bay and a 2011 Chiefs draft pick. More than likely that pick will be a 6th or 7th rounder. In return, the Bucs presumably will send a mid round pick to Kansas City to complete the trade.

This move leaves an open roster spot in Kansas City. There are rumblings that suggest former New England Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas has interest in joining the Chiefs.

Kansas City would like to add another linebacker at some point. The move makes sense since he already knows the Chiefs defensive system. In fact, Chiefs General Manager Scott Pioli was responsible for signing Thomas to a rich free agent contract when he held the same position at New England.

However, there are other teams interested in his services. One of them the Houston Texans who defeated the Chiefs on Sunday and Cincinnati.

Thomas worked out for the Bengals on Friday but was not offered a contract. The Texans are looking to replace DeMeco Ryans, who was lost for the season after rupturing his achilles heal against the Chiefs on Sunday.

For more Chiefs news, stay tuned to Warpaint Illustrated.com.