At last year’s trade deadline, the Kansas City Chiefs acquired wide receiver Cadarius Toni from the U.S. New York Giants, who was reportedly traded due to injury concerns. However, he made an immediate impact on the Chiefs’ receiving corps wide-including a touchdown in the team’s 38-35 victory over Philadelphia Eagles in power 57th.
While Kansas City has largely used Tony as a utility player in 2022, there is a belief that the team is now He sees him as a No. 1 wide receiver. With each passing day, it becomes clear that this is the chiefs’ plan.
What would this look like? Let’s take a look at his filmography from college and the NFL to find out.
Back touches
Tony’s use of deliveries has been more profound in Florida than he has been in the NFL, but it’s certainly not a bad change-up look for an offense. Tony’s vision and agility make him great with the ball in his hands, and his contact balance is also great for a smaller player. pic.twitter.com/Ccp8oCcNNn
– Nate Christensen (@natech32) May 16, 2023
When Tony played at Florida, the Gators offense simply focused on getting the ball any way he could. One way to do this was to put him in the background to take over deliveries. Toney has the vision and balance to connect to get the job done.
Here’s a better actor to represent Tony’s work from behind. You forgot the Alabama game. Runs out and up from the backfield, goes out into a flat to open a full DB, crosses on the inside for a blind DB, makes a great catch
I have like 5 clips of this game pic.twitter.com/fHwuBwoY9K
– Nate Christensen (@natech32) May 16, 2023
Tony’s positioning on the court also helped give him advantageous tackles against opening defenders and linebackers. Since he is dynamic enough to win from any corner, his smooth changes of direction allow him to set up any road. Running lanes from the backfield give him plenty of room to work – and defenses struggle to match it.
So far, the Chiefs have used Toney from the backfield sparingly – but almost every time, it’s been a hit.
I definitely think we’ll see more work from Tony on the pitch this year as a way to get positive encounters. DEN rotates to C3, S flies down onto the wheel path.
This could be a way to get Toney for the LB/S and give him more room pic.twitter.com/si0ewYBPoA
– Nate Christensen (@natech32) May 18, 2023
More and more NFL teams are using wide receivers (ex San Francisco 49ers‘Deebo Samuel) out in their backyards on a regular basis – especially if they have the vision and the physicality to make the deliveries. If they can handle running reads, their extra speed adds another arrow to their game-calling quiver. Apart from Samuel, Tony might just be the best player in the league.
Toney’s vertical path tree expansion
I knew Toney’s foundation in Florida was vertically based, but I forgot how much that really was. His Bama game was definitely insane. #2 In empty, Bama falls to C1, Tony Hessey before breaking out, wide enough to keep two hands away and fast enough to stack CB pic.twitter.com/LNUhmB86F4
– Nate Christensen (@natech32) May 16, 2023
The Toney Road tree in Florida was more vertical than the hole than I remember. Jetting action in shot down seam, stumping out then collapsing in, S lags turning but his trajectory tree stood more vertically (I wouldn’t argue this was his best use IMO) pic.twitter.com/xkf2Ta8ZaR
– Nate Christensen (@natech32) May 16, 2023
Florida has used Tony on more vertical routes than he’s ever seen on The Next Level. Although not the fastest receiver in the league, his vertical trajectory is powerful. He’s able to make defenders open their hips in one direction – then he uses his explosiveness to attack their corners and get past them. His ability to recognize leverage is top notch.
We’ve seen KC hit Hardman/Tyreek on these drag/drag ways for years and it’s something we haven’t seen much of Toney but it’s in the movie. It was something he ran with NYG more of but he could definitely have seen expansion there with Hardman gone pic.twitter.com/KJWkGN4fLY
– Nate Christensen (@natech32) May 18, 2023
So far, the Chiefs haven’t asked Toney to run many vertical runs – though they’ve occasionally had him run some deep cross.
Tony manages these tracks really well. He knows how to position his way between the safety and the bottom of the defender, giving the quarterback the perfect throwing window.
With Mikul Hardman gone in free agency, there is a need to stretch my head. Tony can fulfill this role. Although he doesn’t have the full speed of Hardman, his relationship with quarterback Patrick Mahomes (and his spatial awareness) makes him a good fit.
ways from the hatch
I’ll have more to show but that kind of play is something we’ll probably see more of from Tony next year; Place it in the slot, and allow it to operate a variety of slashes/whips to attack the winches with its detachable ability
Dirty outer stem, syringe back in, DB cooked pic.twitter.com/uIHWjnnmlf
– Nate Christensen (@natech32) May 17, 2023
With both the Gators and Giants, Toney has been primarily used on option lanes from the slot, which make use of his directional change and lane running abilities. He can turn at any angle, which makes it very difficult for defenders to stick to his path – and his skill at changing both his pace and speed can freeze them.
So if Tony gets a bigger role in 2023, he’ll start here. With JuJu Smith-Schuster gone, the Chiefs could use a future in slot possession. With Tony’s spatial awareness and speed skills, this is an area where Tony can dominate.
Beatings in press coverage
NYG has done Toney more outside of LoS, which has been met with mixed results. Keeping him out of LoS is important IMO, but that doesn’t mean he can’t work from there. Great editing here, external release, strong blow to hold lever external, broken internal
Agility/foot movement pic.twitter.com/CMGzab3fVd
– Nate Christensen (@natech32) May 17, 2023
Release from Illness Here by Tony Vs. Trayvon Diggs. Outside punch, quick cross in, quickly gets on top, Diggs tries to track inside hip, Tony feigns in to get Diggs to open hips, crazy break out. An unorthodox way to beat the press but he sure can do it pic.twitter.com/Um3cWZ3ltu
– Nate Christensen (@natech32) May 17, 2023
While Florida rarely asked Toney to beat the press coverage on the border, the Giants were at times willing to trust him there. His two-footed skills and change of direction made it difficult for the cornerbacks to match them on their feet. This allowed him to find creative ways to beat the press.
Toney’s playoff run was limited by his getting hurt early in the AFCCG but we did see that one of the first scripted plays was putting Toney in, giving him a pick, then running a fading slot behind him. Lots of confidence in him to win with difficulty on the sidelines pic.twitter.com/CXKBB0ViNP
– Nate Christensen (@natech32) May 18, 2023
While the bosses didn’t ask Tony to beat the press coverage too much, there was a play in AFC Championship that stand out.
On the crucial third down the opening drive, Toney is the point man—the receiver on the line of scrimmage in a set formation—and runs a lackluster run against the covering man. While the Chiefs offer him some help off the line of scrimmage with a route pick, they’re still willing to make a play as Tony must create some space off the line..
While Tony has had limited success against press coverage in New York, there may be value in advancing this area of his game. While he will always be at a disadvantage and long haul, he has the tools and releases to open up to press coverage.
bottom line
Everything about using Toney is related to health. While he truly is incredibly talented, it’s only fair to ask how much he can handle. Unfortunately, we cannot answer this question yet; We simply haven’t seen enough of him in Kansas City.
Full disclosure: When I started this review, I wasn’t sure if he could handle a bigger role. When he was a potential client, I wasn’t one of his big fans—and I always had concerns about his ability to handle a larger workload.
But after watching more of the tape, I became more hopeful. Toney will always be at his best in designer plays, but there is still a way to play a bigger role. If you can get it to work into the slot – below it and vertically – it should be able to expand from there.
I’m not sure Tony will be #1 all over the world, the bosses seem to think he is. But I think he can easily rack up 1,000 yards from scrimmage this year. If he can do that, he will make the contribution Kansas City needs.