Examining Brett Veach’s tendencies in free agency, trades, and the NFL Draft
By Grant Tuttle
The Draft: Brett Veach’s complicated history
Veach is entering his third draft and it is hard to get a read on how capable of a drafter he is. While everyone rushes to explain that Patrick Mahomes was truly Brett Veach’s idea to anyone who criticizes his drafting abilities, the truth is there is some inconsistency in the way that Veach drafts. Last season looks like a steal of a draft class, whereas 2018 looks like an unmitigated disaster.
One thing is clear from any story that you hear about Veach and the way that he views draft prospects: He finds HIS guy. While sometimes that can be a potential bust of a pick like Breeland Speaks, it can also mean finding role players with tremendous potential like Mecole Hardman. Kansas City is unpredictable when it comes to the draft, which may be part of the strategy.
In 2018, Veach selected one player that has consistently had an impact: Derrick Nnadi. Nnadi has been a strong run-stopper in the middle of the defense but has never developed into anything more spectacular than that. Breeland Speaks was a player that Veach loved and has yet to show that he can stay healthy or contribute in a meaningful way. Armani Watts and Dorian O’Daniel have been special teams contributors, but have struggled to find a role on the defensive side of the ball. 2019 looked a whole lot different.
In 2019, Veach selected a lot of role players with great potential and it served the team to perfection last season. Juan Thornhill looked like one of the league’s best coverage safeties and Harman looked like of the NFL’s most explosive players. Additionally, the Chiefs added Reshad Fenton who flashed serious potential in limited snaps. In the middle of the defense, Khalen Saunders showed promise as well. Next season we may see a higher snap count for Darwin Thompson, who looked like a talented player that didn’t quite understand the complex NFL playbook.
Veach has a lot to look forward to and still a lot to prove. One good draft does not make a talented general manager. I expect him to look for players that will fit the mold of the team and bulk talent for the near future. If there was one area to have some concern in, it’s the draft.
Future moves:
When assessing this year’s draft class, one thing is abundantly clear. Veach will have no shortage of intriguing options. Depending on how the draft board falls, Veach could be looking at linebackers who would help immediately or some cornerbacks who could become top-tier players one day.
Names to remember that may fit the mold of Kansas City include linebacker Patrick Queen from LSU, linebacker Kenneth Murray from Oklahoma, cornerback Trevon Diggs from Alabama, or offensive lineman Josh Jones from Houston. It’s hard to assess and predict how Kansas City will draft. Let’s just hope it looks more like last season and less like 2018.