In a surprising move, the Kansas City Chiefs have parted ways with wide receiver Skyy Moore, trading the 24-year-old to the San Francisco 49ers, according to multiple reports on Wednesday. The transaction marks the end of a brief and underwhelming tenure for the former second-round draft pick, who struggled to carve out a significant role in Kansas City’s high-powered offense.
Moore, selected out of Western Michigan in the 2022 NFL Draft, was once viewed as a promising addition to the Chiefs’ receiving corps. Standing at 5-10 and weighing 195 pounds, the speedy wideout was expected to develop into a reliable target for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. However, his time in Kansas City was marred by inconsistency and injuries. As a rookie, Moore primarily served as a backup, and while he earned eight starts in 2023, he failed to establish himself as a consistent playmaker. A core muscle injury further derailed his progress, limiting him to just six games last season. He has not recorded a reception since December 2023.
The 2025 preseason did little to bolster Moore’s case for a roster spot with the Chiefs. A hamstring injury during training camp and two drops in Kansas City’s recent preseason loss to the Seattle Seahawks raised concerns about his reliability. Despite these setbacks, Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub expressed confidence in Moore’s potential just a day before the trade. Highlighting Moore’s growth as a return specialist, Toub noted, “His punt-return ability and kick-return ability has really gotten better over the years. It showed right there. He’s solid there in that part of it.” Toub specifically praised Moore’s 88-yard punt-return touchdown against the Seahawks, adding, “He’s definitely an NFL player, whether he’s on our team or not on our team. I think the return helped him and opened a lot of eyes for people. He’s a good football player.”
The trade to San Francisco offers Moore a fresh start with a 49ers team in need of depth at the wide receiver position. The 49ers’ receiving corps has been plagued by injuries, with star Brandon Aiyuk expected to miss at least the first few weeks of the season due to a knee injury sustained last year. Jauan Jennings has been hampered by a calf issue, while backups Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins remain sidelined. Additionally, Demarcus Robinson faces a three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, as confirmed by head coach Kyle Shanahan on Wednesday. Moore’s arrival provides much-needed reinforcement for a depleted unit.
For the Chiefs, the trade signals a shift in roster priorities as they move on from a player who was unable to meet expectations during his three-year stint. With the final year of his rookie contract looming, Moore faced an uphill battle to secure a meaningful role in Kansas City. Now, he has an opportunity to prove himself in San Francisco, where his skills as both a receiver and return specialist could find a new home.
As the NFL season approaches, all eyes will be on Moore to see if he can overcome his “mental hump,” as Toub described, and capitalize on this second chance with the 49ers.