Kansas City Chiefs GM enters NFL Draft’s final day with value in mind: TV details, etc.
Two picks down, four more to go for the Chiefs in the 2021 NFL Draft. The final-day action starts at 11 a.m. Saturday on ESPN (ABC simulcast) and the NFL Network.
The “hot zone” of the second round sure proved kind to Chiefs general manager Brett Veach. Up first for the Chiefs was Missouri linebacker Nick Bolton with the 58th overall pick, followed by Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey five slots later as the 63rd overall pick.
“Two outstanding prospects,” Veach said Friday night at the conclusion of the third round. “Extremely excited to welcome both these guys to Kingdom.”
The Chiefs entered the second round on a mission after sitting out the first round and came away with two players likely expected to either contribute or compete for a starting job immediately.
Veach didn’t have a third-round pick, but that doesn’t mean the thought didn’t cross his mind to make a move.
“We were open to fielding some trade-down calls,” Veach said. “We had some dialogue with teams. We felt like there were a number of players that we liked, and again there’s a lot of flexibility, but that never really materialized.”
With the second day of the draft concluded, the Chiefs will now set sights on the final day armed with a fourth-round pick, two fifth-round picks and a sixth-round pick.
There are some needs remaining on the roster, such as bolstering the team’s depth at pass rusher, wide receiver, cornerback, safety and perhaps tight end.
Do not expect Veach to overthink this, however.
“I think we’ll just stay true to our board,” he said. “I don’t know if we’re looking specifically at position; we’re looking for value.”
Veach points out after the top 100 players are off the board, opinions will differ among the personnel staff members.
But as the later rounds progress, the Chiefs’ scouting staff has an opportunity to shine, like it did in 2020 with the fourth-round pick of cornerback L’Jarius Sneed — a steal of last year’s draft process.
“We think there’s value hidden in these next few picks for us,” Veach said. “We’re certainly looking forward to the challenge.
“I don’t know if we’re saying we want this position or that position. I think we’re going to let the board play out. We’ll take the best player.”
CHIEFS’ DRAFT PICKS
- Round 2, 58th overall: LB Nick Bolton, Missouri
- Round 2, 63rd overall: C Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
- Round 4, 144th overall: Saturday
- Round 5, 175th overall: Saturday
- Round 5, 181st overall: Saturday
- Round 6, 207th overall: Saturday
DID YOU KNOW
Friday night marked the second straight year that the Chiefs have used a second-round pick on an SEC linebacker.
In 2020, the Chiefs selected Willie Gay Jr. out of Mississippi State with the 63rd overall pick.
DID YOU KNOW, TAKE II
Bolton is the first player from Missouri drafted by the Chiefs since center Mitch Morse in 2015. He is also the 11th player from Missouri drafted by the Chiefs overall, including three from the organization’s AFL days.
DRAFT NIGHT QUOTEABLES
• “Football is like being a farmer; there’s always work to be done,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said.
• “With Creed coming in here, needless to say now you feel good about leaving (Joe) Thuney where he’s most comfortable and that’s at that guard position,” Veach said.
• “He’s such a mean player on the field,” Humphrey said of former college teammate, now current teammate Orlando Brown Jr. “That’s something I’ve always admired about him, something I’ve always tried to copy my game after.”
This story was originally published May 1, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
