Ranking Brett Veach’s player trades as Kansas City Chiefs GM
By Jacob Milham
18. The Tyreek Hill trade
Chiefs receive: 2022 first-round pick, 2022 second-round pick, 2022 fourth-round pick, 2023 fourth-round pick, 2023 sixth-round pick
Dolphins receive: WR Tyreek Hill
This is the hardest trade to rank because this trade’s full impact will not be felt for years. But, for the first time since 2016, wide receiver Tyreek Hill is not in Kansas City.
Chiefs fans watch Hill, the 156th overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, develop from a gadgety return specialist to one of the best receivers in the NFL. His connection with Mahomes has elevated both their careers and the Chiefs franchise as well. Hill earned Pro Bowl recognition since his rookie year and first-team All-Pro three times in Kansas City. The Chiefs shook the AFC to its core by trading the speedster to the Miami Dolphins for a huge draft return.
The biggest question about the Hill trade remained for days: why did Veach do this? Simply put, the money did not add up. Kansas City could have met Hill’s record-setting demands, but that would pinch the entire roster and create a sap space logjam for years to come. So Veach sent Hill down south, where Hill got the deal he wanted. Meanwhile, Veach got a headstart on replenishing the Chiefs roster. Right now, how this affects both Miami and Kansas City is inconclusive.
None of the 2022 picks included in the trade actually landed in Kansas City, as all were used in Veach’s moving up and down draft boards in 2022. The 2023 return remains to be seen as well unless someone has a time machine and can tell us now.
For years, where this trade ranks amongst Veach’s moves will remain a question. How this affects Mahomes’ and Hill’s careers will determine the answer, as well as how the 2022 draft class performs in years to come.