Owen Carney Signed After Trade by the Kansas City Chiefs

In a strategic move to bolster their defensive line depth amid a tight playoff race, the Kansas City Chiefs announced on Wednesday that they have acquired defensive end Owen Carney from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick. Owen Carney Signed After Trade by the Kansas City Chiefs isn’t just a minor roster tweak; it’s a calculated effort to address a growing need in the Chiefs’ pass rush, which has seen a dip in productivity over the past month. Carney, a third-year player who has spent his entire NFL career with the Bears, brings a combination of size (6’3”, 265 lbs) and athleticism that aligns with the Chiefs’ defensive scheme. With the Chiefs currently fighting for a wild-card spot and facing tough AFC opponents down the stretch, Carney’s arrival could provide the defensive spark needed to solidify their playoff aspirations.

Owen Carney Signed After Trade by the Kansas City Chiefs begins with the details of the trade negotiations and what led the Chiefs to target Carney. The Chiefs’ interest in Carney first emerged in late November, when defensive end George Karlaftis suffered a minor shoulder injury that sidelined him for two games. During Karlaftis’ absence, the Chiefs’ pass rush recorded just three sacks, down from their season average of 2.8 sacks per game. General manager Brett Veach and his scouting team identified Carney as a low-cost, high-upside addition—someone who had shown flashes of potential in Chicago but hadn’t received consistent playing time. The Bears, who are in the middle of a rebuild, were willing to part with Carney in exchange for a late-round draft pick, as they look to accumulate more assets for the future. “Owen is a player we’ve had our eye on since his time at Florida State,” Veach said in a statement. “He has the tools to be an effective pass rusher in our system, and we believe he’ll thrive with more opportunities here in Kansas City.” The trade was finalized on Tuesday, and Carney is expected to join the Chiefs’ practice squad initially before being elevated to the active roster ahead of their Week 15 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Owen Carney Signed After Trade by the Kansas City Chiefs next explores Carney’s NFL career and the specific skills he brings to the Chiefs’ defense. After going undrafted in 2022, Carney signed with the Bears as a free agent and quickly impressed coaches with his work ethic and raw talent. He made his NFL debut in Week 3 of the 2022 season and went on to appear in 14 games that year, recording 12 tackles and 1 sack. In 2023, he saw more playing time, appearing in all 17 games and finishing with 21 tackles and 2.5 sacks. This season, however, Carney’s role diminished with the Bears’ addition of veteran defensive ends Yannick Ngakoue and DeMarcus Walker, limiting him to just 18 defensive snaps in six games. What stands out about Carney is his ability to win with speed off the edge and his strength in run defense—two traits that the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo values highly. “Owen has a quick first step that allows him to beat offensive tackles off the line,” Spagnuolo explained. “He also does a good job of setting the edge against the run, which will help us contain teams like the Bengals and Broncos, who have strong running games.”

Owen Carney Signed After Trade by the Kansas City Chiefs highlights how the Kansas City Chiefs’ coaching staff is preparing to integrate Carney into their defense and what his role might look like initially. Carney arrived in Kansas City on Wednesday and immediately began working with defensive line coach Joe Cullen to learn the Chiefs’ scheme. The coaching staff has focused on teaching Carney the nuances of their pass-rush moves and their run-defense assignments, as the Chiefs’ system differs slightly from the Bears’ 4-3 alignment. “We’re taking it day by day with Owen,” Cullen said. “First, we want him to learn the basics—our terminology, our alignments, our responsibilities. Once he has that down, we’ll start working on more advanced concepts.” Initially, Carney is expected to play primarily on passing downs, rotating in with Karlaftis and Mike Danna to keep the defensive line fresh. He may also see time on special teams, as the Chiefs look to get him acclimated to game action quickly. The Kansas City Chiefs’ players have also welcomed Carney with open arms, with veteran defensive tackle Chris Jones taking him under his wing to help him adjust to the team’s culture. “We’re all here to help Owen succeed,” Jones said. “The faster he learns our system, the faster he can contribute—and we need all the help we can get right now.”

Owen Carney Signed After Trade by the Kansas City Chiefs delves into the potential impact Carney could have on the Chiefs’ defense, especially as they head into a critical stretch of the season. The Chiefs’ next four games are against the Bengals, Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos, and Cincinnati Bengals again—all teams that have struggled with pass protection at times this season. The Bengals, for example, have allowed 34 sacks this season (14th most in the NFL), while the Raiders have given up 38 sacks (9th most). Carney’s speed off the edge could exploit these weaknesses, providing the Chiefs with an additional pass-rushing threat that opposing offenses will have to account for. His presence could also take pressure off Jones, who has been double-teamed more frequently in recent weeks, freeing him up to make more plays in the backfield. “Adding Owen to our defensive line gives us more depth and more options,” Spagnuolo said. “Opposing offenses can’t just focus on Chris or George anymore—they have to worry about Owen too. That’s the kind of balance we need to be successful in the playoffs.” The Kansas City Chiefs’ defense, which currently ranks 12th in the NFL in sacks, could see a significant boost with Carney in the lineup, especially if he can replicate the production he showed in Chicago during the 2023 season.

Owen Carney Signed After Trade by the Kansas City Chiefs wraps up with the long-term implications of the trade for the Chiefs and what it says about their approach to the playoff push. While a seventh-round draft pick may seem like a small price to pay, the trade signals that the Chiefs are in “win-now” mode, willing to give up future assets to strengthen their roster for a deep playoff run. For Carney, the trade represents a fresh start and an opportunity to prove himself in a winning environment—something he didn’t have in Chicago, where the Bears have struggled in recent years. “I’m grateful for the opportunity the Chiefs have given me,” Carney said in his introductory press conference. “This is a team that knows how to win, and I want to do everything I can to help them reach the Super Bowl. I’m ready to work hard and contribute any way I can.” For the Kansas City Chiefs, who are currently 8-5 and holding the seventh seed in the AFC, Carney’s arrival could be the difference between making the playoffs and missing out entirely. As the season winds down, all eyes will be on Carney and the defensive line to see if this trade pays off. Owen Carney Signed After Trade by the Kansas City Chiefs is, at its core, a story of opportunity and ambition—a team looking to seize the moment and a player looking to make the most of his second chance. In the high-stakes world of the NFL playoffs, moves like this can often be the difference between success and failure.