Chiefs GM Brett Veach is laser-focused on fixing linebacker
By Matt Conner
Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach is laser-focused on fixing the linebacker position.
Give Brett Veach this much credit: when he wants something fixed, he’s not afraid to throw everything at it.
After only a month or so in power as the new general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, Veach has proven that he’s trying to do anything and everything he can to fix the team’s issues at linebacker—or at least that has to be the takeaway after yet another move by Veach at the position.
The Chiefs have made several moves at linebacker over the last few weeks, beginning with the signing of free agent linebacker Josh Mauga. It was Veach’s first official signing, and even Mauga made it clear that Veach had been in touch with him before he was even officially announced as the team’s new GM. The move brought back a familiar face to the Chiefs in Mauga and provided a bit of veteran security knowing there was a player in house who knew Bob Sutton’s schemes.
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From there, Veach surprised everyone with a straight up trade linebacker for linebacker when he dealt Pro Bowl special teams ace D.J. Alexander to the Seattle Seahawks. In return, he received linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis, an athletic wonder who set the NFL Combine ablaze yet never found his way with the Seahawks. Veach was clearly hoping a change of scenery (and scheme) would prove useful and the returns have looked positive in the preseason.
Then on Monday, Mauga was released to make room for the latest attempt, er, addition to the mix in former Buffalo Bills linebacker Reggie Ragland. Just one year after being selected in the second round, the Bills new leadership regime decided to bail on their investment when the Chiefs offered up a 2019 fourth round selection for Ragland. The Alabama product missed the entire 2016 regular season due to a torn ACL, so it’s uncertain if Ragland can return to form that led to being selected No. 41 overall, but Veach believes the risk is worth the potential reward.
It’s unknown at this point how these moves will ultimately work out, but credit Veach for doing what he can to fix the problem. He’s going all-in to provide Bob Sutton with a number of new options for the heart of the defense.