3. The DeAndre Washington trade
Chiefs receive: 2021 sixth-round draft pick
Miami receives: RB DeAndre Washington, 2021 seventh-round draft pick
Trading away running back DeAndre Washington was not an immediate game-changer, but the ripple effects have significantly helped the Chiefs’ offensive line.
Washington came to Kansas City after spending four years with division rival then-Oakland Raiders. He was a solid depth player for the Raiders, totaling 1,735 yards from scrimmage and 4.0 yards per rush in his four-year tenure. Washington joined the Chiefs in 2020 when they lacked a clear rushing attack. Then-rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was the top guy, but there was opportunity below him. Unfortunately, Washington never saw many opportunities with the Chiefs.
Washington only played ten offensive snaps for Kansas City before being traded to the Miami Dolphins. The Chiefs parlayed him and a 2021 seventh-round pick into Miami’s 2021 sixth-round pick. Washington had a bigger impact in Miami’s backfield, but Veach squeezing trade value out of him is notable.
That sixth-round draft pick became quite important.
It was the 207th overall pick and one of two that the Chiefs sent to the Jets in exchange for the 162nd and 226th overall picks that year. Kansas City selected tight-end Noah Gray and offensive lineman Trey Smith with those two picks. Arguably, Veach flipped Washington into Smith, a solid guard who started all 17 games in 2021 for Kansas City. That is a huge steal.