KC Chiefs: The biggest swings Brett Veach can take at left tackle

Going with a project

The other patented move by Brett Veach needs to be introduced here: the trade for a player who was once highly-regarded and/or drafted early and who has fallen on hard times.

The list is long here of players who have come to Kansas City hoping that a change of scenery might do the trick for their careers. Kadarius Toney is the latest example, but Veach has tried the buy-low approach at several positions over the last five-plus years, including at offensive tackle when he added Cam Erving to the roster.

The best candidate for a move like that this offseason would be a swap for New York Jets offensive tackle Mekhi Becton. The former first-round pick is a mammoth player with a wingspan of 7 feet with the combination of almost everything scouts love about a prototypical tackle. The downside is that Becton struggled early to adjust to the pro level and then had injuries ruin the last two years of his career.

At this point, Becton is coming into his fourth and final season on his rookie deal (unless the Jets want to use their club option for a fifth season) with only 1 game played in the last two years. Knee injuries have robbed him of multiple years and it’s hard to even gauge what he might cost in a deal.

For the Chiefs, the important thing here is that a trade for Becton could provide the sort of ceiling they want for a price that’s amenable. Becton is still only 23 years old and he’s going to have a lot to prove coming into this season. He’s also reportedly healthy and ready to go after sitting out all of last season.

The best pairing here would be a trade for Becton combined with a solid draft investment or a veteran signing (Donovan Smith?) to maintain a floor while reaching for a ceiling.

Why they wouldn’t do this: “Hey Pat, your left tackle hasn’t really played since 2020.”