Chiefs’ GM identifies where value lies in NFL Draft, painting possible picture of plans
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chiefs hold a top-10 pick for the first time since 2013 entering the NFL Draft.
- GM Brett Veach identified tackle value that may extend to picks around 35–40.
- Veach said cornerback could be a Day 1 or Day 2 pick and receivers have mid-round depth.
The Kansas City Chiefs enter next Thursday in unusual territory, as they will pick within the top 10 in the NFL Draft for the first time since 2013.
But a single top-10 selection won’t address the team’s abundance of needs, which include cornerback, edge rusher, wide receiver and depth at offensive tackle.
And speaking of tackles, the Chiefs see value in this draft class — particularly on Day 1. General manager Brett Veach confirmed that Thursday during his pre-draft meeting with local media.
“I think that there are quite a number of tackles,” Veach said. “But I think it does fall off right after that first round. Maybe it extends to pick 35 or 40.”
Several recent mock drafts have Kansas City using at least one of its first-rounders on a tackle. Veach seems to like the receiver options available on Day 2 and beyond.
“I think receivers, it’s maybe not as top-heavy as it was in the past,” Veach said. “There might be a little break, but I do think that there’s some mid-round depth there at the receiver position.”
The consensus among draft analysts is that four receivers — Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, USC’s Makai Lemon, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson and Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. — will all come off the board in the first round.
Early in draft season, some projected that the Chiefs could select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. Instead, they signed veteran Kenneth Walker, which means they won’t have to worry about Love going in the top eight.
“As everyone knows, it’s kind of thinner this year at the running back position,” he said.
As the roster stands ahead of the draft, the Chiefs’ projected starting cornerbacks are Kristian Fulton and Nohl Williams. Fulton missed a chunk of time last season due to injury, and Williams, now in his second season, would be a first-time starter.
Given that situation, expect Kansas City to add a cornerback on Day 1 or Day 2.
“I think corner is just kind of sprinkled,” Veach said. “There’s some moderate depth there in (Round 1), partly into (Round) 2, and then, like the receivers, you always get a run of corners in (Rounds) 3 and 4.” Two of the more popular projections for the Chiefs at No. 9 have been Miami’s Rueben Bain and Texas Tech’s David Bailey, but Veach’s comments suggest he believes they may be able to wait. “I think that there’s really good (defensive end) depth right throughout the board,” he said. “That’s just how we see it. Other teams may see it differently. And I think having the picks and the amount that we do, it will give us a chance to navigate the board a little bit.”
