Brett Veach has already given up more value at this year’s trade deadline than at any other point in his history as the Chiefs general manager.
There are still a few days left for Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach to work out another deal or two before the National Football League’s trade deadline arrives on Tuesday, November 1. In fact, the bulk of business should be conducted right before the deadline since many teams will want another week of action to decide whether to buy or sell based on their current place in the standings.
Still, Veach has already invested more than he ever has before since taking over the post back in 2017.
In case you missed the news of the last few days, the Chiefs sent a compensatory third-round pick (acquired after losing executive Ryan Poles to the Chicago Bears) and a sixth-round choice in the upcoming 2023 draft to the New York Giants in exchange for wide receiver Kadarius Toney. Just like that, Veach had invested more at the deadline than he had in the previous five years.
For his first four seasons as the team’s general manager, Veach sat utterly still at the NFL’s trade deadline. Perhaps the right player wasn’t available or Veach was still getting used to the rhythms of the job, the Chiefs were quiet at the deadline even with Super Bowl aspirations. Last year, Veach made his first pre-deadline deals when he sent Laurent Duvernay to the New York Jets for tight end Dan Brown (who would be released a bit a bit later.) Veach would follow that up with a trade of a sixth-round choice in ’22 for pass rusher Melvin Ingram.
This year, the two choices are already a greater investment than any previous year and the Chiefs might not be done shopping. A pass rusher could be in store for a unit that’s struggled to finish at times. Injuries have upset expectations at cornerback as well. Could more be on the way?
Either way it’s already been a very active trade deadline for the Chiefs.