Brett Veach discusses aggressive approach before 2018 NFL Draft
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs have an aggressive general manager in Brett Veach, but he’s says it’s all about being sure you’re making the “right decision.”
Several months into his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs general manager, Brett Veach has proven himself to be decisive despite John Dorsey’s looming shadow. He quickly traded away the team’s starting quarterback Alex Smith in the days before the Super Bowl, and also jettisoned Marcus Peters when it was clear the team wasn’t going to re-sign the star cornerback after this year.
Since then Veach has signed linebacker Anthony Hitchens to a big money deal in free agency, brought in Sammy Watkins as his 1A receiver and allowed team legends Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson to leave. In between he’s traded draft picks for Reggie Ragland and Cam Erving, released Ron Parker, signed David Amerson and added considerable competition at running back top to bottom.
But now, on the verge of leading his first ever NFL Draft, Veach says he’s planning on being just as aggressive—although not just for the sake of being so. In an interview with B.J. Kissel at the Chiefs official site, Veach says it’s about being smart and aggressive at the same time.
“I know that we’re going to be aggressive,” says Veach. “I think that from the time that I started here, myself and my staff, we’ve always kind of pushed the envelope and we’re going to continue to do that. But we’re always going to be smart about it and we’re always going to do what’s best for the Chiefs.”
“It all comes down to, in regards to moving up, the likelihood of getting a player with that ability later in the draft. If there are pockets of players and the draft is deep in rounds 3 or 4 in a certain area, you’re going to give up quality depth-level players that may turn into staters,” he adds. “So it’s certainly a balancing act. If you’re going to move up, you’ve gotta be sure on that player. It’s gotta be the right decision.”
Next: Why the Chiefs might draft another QB
The Chiefs are likely looking for impact players at cornerback and perhaps defensive line as well, so if the right guy falls, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see the Chiefs move up into the top half of the second round or even the very late first—perhaps with the Philadelphia Eagles who have already said they’re willing to move out of the first entirely.
That sounds aggressive. Not it’s just about making sure it’s smart.