Brett Veach discusses defensive changes and contract extensions

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach spoke to The Program on 810 WHB-AM to discuss several offseason items of note for the team.

The Kansas City Chiefs have a very busy offseason ahead of them with key free agents to re-sign, others to replace, major draft assets to use or leverage, and a defense to remake.

General manager Brett Veach sat down for a few minutes with 810 WHB-AM’s The Program to discuss several of these items of note and gave at least a bit of insight into what the team might be thinking with how they’re moving forward.

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Right now, the primary task being undertaken at Arrowhead is an intensive evaluation of the entire roster top to bottom, especially as the team adjusts to a new defensive leader in Steve Spagnuolo. Veach said they are allowing the Chiefs new defensive coordinator to watch tape by himself to make his own evaluations with a “fresh set of eyes,” which will come in handy once they all come together.

“We made a staff change on the defensive side,” said Veach. “Coach Spagnuolo has just gotten here a few days ago. I think Monday was his first day in office. I think the first process right now—and the cool thing is with having a new staff member as a coordinator—is Steve is actually in there cranking tape as we speak. He’s gonna put a fresh set of eyes on everything he sees.

“Certainly, we’ll have some schematic changes to our defense, and he’ll do so without any kind of interjection from me or my staff,” he continues. “It will be a pure evaluation from him. Then once he gets through his assessment of what he thinks, we’ll certainly come in and share our thoughts and opinions with him. Then factor in all of the contract stuff, money stuff, what we have and what we can do and kind of see where we need to be and what plan of action would be best.”

Veach said that process would wrap up before the NFL Combine scheduled near the end of the month in Indianapolis. At that point, the team will have a cohesive review of every player top to bottom on the roster by the incumbent coaching staff as well as the newest face along with front office input to make for a well-rounded understanding of where the team’s strengths and weaknesses lie.

The switch to Spagnuolo should work well for many of the younger pieces already brought in under Veach’s leadership. The general manager singled out linebackers Anthony Hitchens and Dorian O’Daniel as well as defensive lineman Breeland Speaks and said all three should be a good fit in a 4-3 defense, which is Spagnuolo’s preferred base. He also said Chris Jones and Derrick Nnadi should feel at home as well.

Veach did express excitement at having four significant draft assets, including two picks in the second round, and he also sounded confident that the Chiefs “have enough maneuverability within the cap” to do what they want to do in free agency. Despite being asked about Justin Houston and Eric Berry, that’s all Veach was willing to say on the matter, while acknowledging “we have some tough decisions to make.”

In terms of Eric Berry’s health and future, Veach declined to say much on the matter but instead expressed Berry’s competitive nature and longing to be on the field each and every game this season. He also said that Reid and head trainer Rick Burkholder would likely have media updates in the near future once all information has been assimilated in terms of Berry’s long-term health and progress.

Veach did indicate the Chiefs’ interest in working out long-term extensions with two players in particular: defensive lineman Chris Jones and Tyreek Hill. Jones was third in the NFL in sacks this season with 15.5, and Hill cemented himself as one of the league’s elite wide receivers by finishing fourth overall in receiving yards and setting a new franchise record with 1,479 yards.

“We’ll certainly have discussions with them and their representation,” said Veach. “I think it’s good business to see if we can get something done earlier than later. Certainly both of those players have done a fantastic job for us. Both players are Pro Bowlers. I know Chris didn’t make it but he certainly deserved to make it. It’s very hard to find interior pass rushers. We certainly think Chris is just scratching the surface and same thing with Tyreek. We’ll be active to retain players we’ve drafted and cultivated. I expect them to be a part of our future moving forward.”

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