Could this be the Kansas City Chiefs fans’ most relaxing NFL draft experience ... ever?
Grab some popcorn, or better yet, make some cheese dip. Try a new way to make wings (if you can find them). You’ll have all day, so maybe crockpot some barbacoa and use it for nachos? Just an idea.
The NFL draft is tonight — mock drafts turn into draft grades! — and if you are a Chiefs fan this should be one of the most relaxing draft experiences you’ll ever have. Might as well feed yourself, is the point.
We should clarify. The NFL Draft is all weekend, because why would the NFL want just one day of programming when it could have three?
The first round is Thursday night, 32 picks, and none of them belong to the Chiefs. So, barring the (very unlikely) possibility of the Chiefs trading back into the opening round, what you’ll see is 28 other teams (the Seahawks, Rams, and Texans also don’t have a first-round pick) chasing the Chiefs.
Because, yes, of course we realize the Bucs beat the snot out of the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, but we also realize the Chiefs are the consensus favorites for Super Bowl LVI — and were even before trading the No. 31 overall pick in a deal that filled their only glaring weakness with two-time Pro Bowler Orlando Brown.
The Chiefs have been without a first-round pick before, of course, but never with a core that wears Super Bowl rings and a team that appears to be this complete.
NFL teams are rarely this well positioned: the Chiefs have the same playmakers as last year, with the best offensive line in Patrick Mahomes’ time as the starting quarterback. A defense that’s finished in the top 10 in points each of the last two seasons returns mostly intact.
Put another way: A team that went 14-2 in the regular season and lost the Super Bowl with the equivalent of a second-string offensive line has tangibly improved.
And the first round of the draft presents a stress-free chance to catch up on how rivals hope to close the gap.
The Bills (picking 30th) could use a cornerback, but they will also think about adding help for Josh Allen on offense.
The Ravens (27th and 31st) could use some help on both lines, and have enough draft capital to trade up if they want.
The Browns (26th) might focus on defense, with some talented edge rushers and corners available.
The Dolphins (6th and 18th) could load up on offensive playmakers, but are always a candidate to move up or down in the draft (again).
The Colts (21st) have significant need at left tackle and pass rush, which are good fits for the consensus strengths of this draft class.
All of them will make decisions and immediately talk about how they couldn’t believe their new players were still available. They will have tangibly improved, there is no doubt, but will they have improved as much as the rabbit they’re chasing improved by adding a Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle last week?
Brett Veach and his assistants would love to have a pick Thursday night. The draft is the only way to add high-end talent at relatively low cost. This presents a challenge for the Chiefs, whose payroll will be (justifiably) top-heavy as long as Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Chris Jones and Tyrann Mathieu are employed. The Chiefs hope Brown will be highly paid by next season.
Trading picks for veterans isn’t advisable every year, but it makes sense in specific cases, like when a plug-and-play star is available to fill your last glaring need.
Veach has built a reputation as a supremely confident and a risk-taker, but this is actually a humble and risk-averse move. The draft is a coin flip for even the best evaluators, so the cost in picks and salary is seen as buying the certainty of a man who’s already played in the NFL.
There are reasons the strategy could be particularly apt for this particular draft. The Chiefs’ original 31st overall pick was a bit of a no-man’s land. Their needs at left tackle, cornerback and edge rush are good fits for this draft class’ strengths, but a feeling developed that the Chiefs would have to trade into the teens for an immediate impact player.
Using the trade value chart, the Chiefs would have needed to trade their first- and second-round picks to get to No. 19.
Instead, the Chiefs effectively traded back in the Brown deal and will now pick twice in the second round — 58th and 63rd — which the front office believes is the best spot for value in this class.
Veach’s front office still needs to make this work. The strategy’s impact goes flat without at least one or two impact players from this class, and the biggest needs are at cornerback, edge rush and receiver.
That work starts on Friday.
If you do it right, you’ll have leftovers.