2022 NFL Draft: Weighing various trade scenarios for KC Chiefs
By KC Proctor
Draft week is finally here, and the speculation of the past three months is almost ready for bed. The draft begins on Thursday, and the eyes of the nation will be honing in on Brett Veach and the Kansas City Chiefs in no time. The eight selections that the Chiefs have in the top 135 picks make for the greatest volume of any organization in that range, and the value in that quantity will be sought after by those who are less fortunate this year.
Many among Chiefs Kingdom have firmly planted their favor in using each of the 12 total picks and turning over the most possible stones to raise the chances of uncovering a gem. However, adding 12 rookies will make for an overcrowded depth chart, and the odds of even half of them turning into Pro Bowl-caliber talents are slim.
Let’s take a look at what it would cost the Chiefs to move up or down into trade scenarios that make sense for the top of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Additionally, in Veach’s tenure as the Chiefs’ GM, he has made rather clear his perpetual interest in increasing quality over quantity. We all know what they say about assuming, but it seems safe at this juncture to get prepared for the total draft haul to shrink with a big move. It seems likely that the Chiefs brass has a plan to trade up and take a guy that they really like and would never have a chance at in the 29/30 range.
Quantifying the value of a draft position is done in a number of different ways, and of course, there is always the human element that ultimately dictates an organization’s decisions. However, the Rich Hill Model as a trade value chart makes draft capital negotiation more understandable for fans. The model, updated each year based on the depth of the draft class, is comprised of a point system that places value on each draft position. For instance, the Chiefs’ position at 29 overall is valued in this metric as 203 points. The theory behind the chart is that in order for a team to acquire the 29th overall pick from Kansas City, they must offer a package of their draft positions that are equal to or greater than 203 points.
Based on this model, here are some of the most feasible draft-day trade options for the Chiefs to make.