Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has spoken to NFL Insider James Palmer about the trade of star receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins. The signal caller admitted he was shocked, but still expressed optimism for the future.

Munich – When Tyreek Hill was traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Miami Dolphins in late March, quarterback Patrick Mahomes apparently felt the same way NFL fans do. “At first it was a bit of a shock,” the 26-year-old admitted in a conversation with NFL Insider James Palmer.

With the Chiefs, Hill quickly advanced to become a favourite playmaking station for Mahomes, catching 111 passes for nearly 1,200 receiving yards and nine touchdowns last season. His impact went well beyond the stat sheet. His speed changed the approach of defenses, which often had to defend more passively and deep because of his presence, offering gaps in the short passing and running game.

Despite his performances on the field, the Chiefs would have found it difficult to reconcile a contract extension for salary cap reasons. Mahomes himself was told in advance about the possibility of Hill leaving: “I knew that could be an option. But you still don’t want someone like that to just leave. I’m happy for him, though, and wish him nothing but the best. “

Chiefs in search of successor

Meanwhile, the Chiefs are already putting out feelers for new starting centre. In the Free Agecncy, Head Coach Andy Reid’s team has already acquired JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Smith-Schuster consistently showed his qualities as an explosive deep playmaker early in his career, but he lacked that dash in recent seasons and was often used only as a receiver in the short passing game.

Valdes-Scantling is more likely to take on the role of deep threat. With the Packers, he averaged 17.5 yards per catch and consistently showed the speed to beat defenses deep.

The Chiefs could also select one of the talented youngster receivers in the draft with one of their two first-round picks. Mahomes, meanwhile, is confident: “I’m going to get with the receivers as soon as possible and hone our chemistry. Then we can have success next year as well. “