Five toughest decisions facing Brett Veach for KC Chiefs
By Matt Conner
The future at wide receiver
Coming into the offseason, fans were curious just how the Chiefs were going to handle the looming free agency of Sammy Watkins. When healthy, Watkins had been a dynamic wide receiver capable of moving the chains and breaking a big play at any given moment. He kept defenses honest as a third target to go alongside Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce.
Unfortunately, Watkins was an emotional yo-yo for Chiefs fans. He had problems staying healthy with numerous injuries, a known risk well before the Chiefs signed him. And after three expensive seasons, the Chiefs had a decision to make.
Their feelings were made known when the Baltimore Ravens were allowed to have him on a single-season deal worth only $5 million.
As the team moved on, the Chiefs also made it clear they weren’t set at the position. The team re-signed Byron Pringle and Demarcus Robinson to remain in-house alongside Mecole Hardman. However, they also chased JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency, and reports had them tied to T.Y. Hilton and Josh Reynolds as well. All three chose other teams.
Since then, the Chiefs have signed fringe roster players (Dalton Schoen, Daurice Fountain, Chris Finke, Darrius Shepherd) and drafted another in the sixth round (Cornell Powell). While some fans are bullish on Powell’s potential, it feels foolish to assume that Veach is suddenly disinterested in a major upgrade at the position after losing out on a few key free agents. At the same time, Veach also didn’t touch a single elite receiver in a deep draft class.
Are the Chiefs really going to head into the season with the current batch of players? Did Veach really only have interest in the likes of Smith-Schuster only to then cool his jets on any further upgrades at the position? Perhaps the Chiefs GM is lying in wait for the right player to enter the market and/or a further opportunity at the trade deadline. Either way, it’s a tough call for an offense that can only hope it doesn’t feel Watkins’ absence in ’21.