Kadarius Toney has gone from the class of the NFL to one of the league’s classic never-beens.
The talented yet enigmatic first-round bust has signed with the Browns and will begin his tenure on the practice squad, NFL Network reported Monday.
Toney, whom the Chiefs waived before Week 1, chose the AFC North contenders over the Seahawks and had other visits planned, according to the report.
NFL teams will always take a gamble on talent, and the Browns certainly look like they need some offensive help after a 33-17 home blowout loss to the Cowboys in Week 1.
Toney unquestionably has talent, but extracting that potential is another story.
The Giants saw some glimpses after taking the Florida star with the 20th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but GM Joe Schoen shipped him to Kansas City for a pair of draft picks, with the new regime opting to cut ties with a player from the previous front office.
Toney had his moments with the Chiefs, including a critical punt return and a receiving touchdown in the 2023 Super Bowl to help the Chiefs down the Eagles, but even playing with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce couldn’t elicit week-to-week consistency.
The 25-year-old tallied 14 catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns in 2022 before registering 27 catches for 169 yards and one touchdown in 13 games last season.
The Chiefs did not activate him for any of their four playoff wins en route to their second straight Super Bowl, which proved to be an ominous sign.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach does not have regrets about the 2022 midseason deal.
“I don’t think we’re sitting here going for a third straight Super Bowl had we not made that trade,” Veach said, per ESPN. “So, from that standpoint, we’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.”
Toney’s decision to join Cleveland did not have a financial factor since his salary is guaranteed for this season, and starting on the practice squad will allow him to ease back into action, per the report.
He will, at best, be the team’s No. 3 wide receiver since Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy are established starters, while ex-Jet Eli Moore is also in the mix.
The Browns’ offense already looks shaky and it doesn’t help that tight end David Njoku is considered week-to-week after suffering an ankle injury Sunday.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson struggled — to put it mildly — in the loss, and has been accused of sexual assault in 2020 in a new lawsuit filed Monday.
The Browns visit the Jaguars in Week 2 in a battle of playoff hopefuls aiming to avoid an 0-2 start.
