**Chiefs Trade for Edge Rusher Cameron Thomas from Arizona in Exchange for 7th-Round Pick**
**Matt Derrick | August 26, 2024**
**KANSAS CITY, Mo.** — The Kansas City Chiefs bolstered their defensive end depth on Monday night by acquiring edge rusher Cameron Thomas from the Arizona Cardinals for a seventh-round draft pick.
Thomas, who has recorded three sacks, 20 solo tackles, and 20 assists in his NFL career, also boasts six tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, two pass breakups, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
The deal was facilitated by Thomas' agent, Chris Cabott, who also represents Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. During the roster cutdown to 53 players, teams often allow players and their agents to seek trades. The specific seventh-round pick involved in the trade has not been disclosed.
Thomas, a third-round pick (No. 87 overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft from San Diego State, has played 32 games with three starts for the Cardinals over the past two seasons. He has logged 591 defensive snaps and 176 special teams snaps. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 267 pounds, Thomas played primarily as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense under Vance Joseph in 2022 before transitioning to a 4-3 defensive end under Nick Rallis last year.
The Chiefs hope to see Thomas return to his rookie form, when he recorded all three of his NFL sacks and received his highest Pro Football Focus grades: 80.1 for tackling, 70.5 for pass rush, and 63.8 for run defense.
Thomas joins a defensive end group that has been hit hard by injuries and lack of depth. With just five healthy defensive ends currently on the roster, including Truman Jones, who has yet to play in a regular-season game, and Charles Omenihu expected to return from a torn ACL midseason, the Chiefs are in need of reinforcements. BJ Thompson’s return to football activities remains uncertain.
A standout at San Diego State, Thomas was a three-time first-team All-Mountain West selection and earned second-team All-American honors in 2021. He was also named the conference’s defensive player of the year after a season in which he recorded 49 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks.
This trade marks the second consecutive year the Chiefs have acquired defensive linemen for draft picks at the roster cutdown deadline, following last year’s acquisition of defensive tackle Neil Farrell for a 2024 sixth-round pick.,,,
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