NFL Draft, Tyreek Hill, Tyrann Mathieu, more: KC Chiefs GM addresses all the hot topics
One of the most anticipated Chiefs news conferences of the year — general manager Brett Veach’s annual pre-draft session — went down on Friday.
He provided a few insights about the team’s direction in the April 28-30 NFL Draft, a selection process that the Chiefs enter flush with 12 picks. Veach also addressed publicly, for the first time, the Tyreek Hill trade, as well as the organization’s decision to not re-sign star safety Tyrann Mathieu.
Here are five takeaways from Veach’s 35-minute talk at the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium practice complex.
1. First, some humor
The first question was delivered tongue-in-cheek by Adam Teicher of ESPN (and formerly The Star).
The Chiefs have made some bold headlines around this time in recent years, from defensive end Frank Clark in 2019 to left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. last year. When Veach walked into Friday’s scheduled session about 20 minutes late, Teicher asked, “Who is it this year?”
“Deebo Samuel,” Veach responded, well aware of the 49ers receiver’s much-publicized desire for a trade.
The moment brought laughter ... and a clue that the Chiefs probably aren’t going there.
“We’ve shown every indication where we’re going with this thing,” Veach continued once the chuckles had subsided, “and we’re going to build through the draft. Having 12 picks and having flexibility year in and year out is something we’re putting a lot of stock in.
“We’re excited to add talent on both sides of the football, work the draft and get younger and get deep.”
OK, so there’s no deal in the works to add Samuel as the latest offensive weapon for superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Well, probably not, anyway.
2. Why Mathieu is gone
Earlier this month, The Star’s Sam McDowell reported that Mathieu was “heartbroken” to leave the Chiefs and would’ve accepted a deal similar to the one the team gave free-agent replacement Justin Reid: three years for $31.5 million, with $20 million guaranteed.
Mathieu said his representatives had only limited conversations with the Chiefs regarding an extension entering the third season of the three-year contract he signed in March of 2019.
Veach described those conversations as “broad concept discussions ... prior to last preseason.”
He then elaborated: “When you have those discussions, to (Mathieu’s) credit and his defense, those are usually geared toward team-friendly deals and what makes sense for us. When we approached him, our expectation was it was a longshot for us. ‘But let’s see if if we can get something done.’”
After the season, when the Chiefs used their franchise tag on Brown, “it becomes tricky and you have pivot and shift quickly. But I can’t say enough about Tyrann and how we feel about him.”
Could Mathieu somehow return to Kansas City? He remained unsigned as a free agent as Veach spoke Friday afternoon.
“Anything is on the table,” the GM said. “If it’s a situation that makes sense for him, it’s all about him now, certainly we wouldn’t close the door to that because of the way we feel about him.”
3. Movin’ on up?
The Chiefs own selections No. 29 and 30 in the first round of this year’s draft.
Veach said the team’s internal evaluation suggests 16-18 players, not counting quarterbacks, are truly worthy of first-round picks. And he doesn’t expect one of those players to drop into late-first round territory, where the Chiefs stand to make their top two selections.
To Veach, the real value in this year’s draft will be found in the 30-60 range. How convenient then that the Chiefs, in addition to the 29th and 30th picks, own the 50th and 62nd picks.
Veach has a history of trading up in the draft, so what about this year? If one of those top 16-18 players is there at, say, 19, 20 or 21, might the Chiefs be on the prowl for a trade partner?
“I probably don’t see a huge jump up, throwing a haymaker and trying to get in the top 10,” Veach said.
That happened in 2017, when the Chiefs moved from No. 27 to No. 10 and drafted Mahomes.
4. About Tyreek Hill ...
Entering the offseason, the Chiefs’ to-do list included getting a new contract ironed out with Hill and signing some new, high-end help on defense
But then receiver Devante Adams signed a monster free-agent contract with the Las Vegas Raiders — five years for $141.25 million, making him the NFL’s highest-paid wideout at the time — and the Chiefs were forced to make a pivotal choice.
“Our agenda was to add talent to the defensive side, whether it be on the line or in the secondary, and take care of Tyreek,” Veach said. “It became obvious as free agency started it was going to be tough to do both, so you’re faced with a decision.
“Do you dip in the older, veteran pass-rush market? If you do that, how are you going to pay Tyreek, and how is Tyreek going to feel about that?”
The Chiefs decided to trade Hill to the Miami Dolphins, sending away perhaps the NFL’s most unique wide receiver talent in exchange for five draft picks, including three this year.
“It was kind of best-case scenario for us and for him,” Veach said.
5. Another running back?
It’s well known that rush end, cornerback and wide receiver are at the top of the Chiefs’ list of needs entering this year’s draft.
But Veach tossed out another position that will be worth watching as the draft unfolds, especially on Saturday — the draft’s third and final day. The Chiefs have two picks in the fourth round and four picks in the seventh.
“The running back class this year is really crazy,” Veach said. “When you factor in the COVID class from last year, and some of the guys who stayed in schools, I’ve never seen such a large group of fifth, sixth, seventh round running backs. My prediction is there will be a 1,000-yard rusher that’s an undrafted free agent or seventh round pick.”
Perhaps he’ll play for the Chiefs.