Given Brett Veach's reputation for being an aggressive player in the annual NFL Draft, the likely move is that the Kansas City Chiefs general manager will be looking to climb from his current spot at No. 31 overall in the first round of the 2025 edition. That said, if he's up for gaining more draft assets and trading back, things are looking rather favorable on the eve of the three-day event.
Veach has a well-established history of trading up in the draft—even multiple times in a given class—from his first-ever draft move to take Breeland Speaks in 2018 to other more heralded moves like a trade up for Trent McDuffie in 2022.
This year, however, it might work out best to move back for the Chiefs in their penultimate position in Thursday's opening round. That's because the latest quarterback chatter before the draft could lead to an enviable position for a team like the Chiefs.
If Brett Veach is willing to ignore his usual instincts, the Chiefs could turn quarterback demand into a draft-day win.
This year's quarterback crop is lacking in obvious franchise faces. That's not ideal for teams like Cleveland Browns or New York Giants or New Orleans Saints who would rather use their early first-round choices on a good bet to take over at quarterback. However, that means they might be more focused on using their second-round picks to take a shot at the game's most important position instead.
The Chiefs sit at an ideal spot for a team wanting to trade back up into the first round to grab their quarterback. For a team like the Giants, for example, reports say there's no way they're going to use the value of the No. 3 overall pick on a QB. However, they could be hot for a target like Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart at a later point in the draft.
NFL reporter Connor Hughes writes that the Giants are a trade-up possibility for the draft's first round in order to move up for Dart. "Sources I touched base with said he’s someone Brian Daboll is high on — most out of QBs other than Cam Ward. Among qualities Daboll values in QBs is toughness. Dart has that. Giants won’t be alone in QB pursuit, though. Matter of how aggressive they want to be."
There are other QB-needy teams who will be jostling with the Giants for the prospect of their choice, which could lead to a bit of a bidding war over position. That's where the Chiefs could come into play, depending on how these franchises really view players like Dart or Tyler Shough or even Shedeur Sanders.
While it would be a disappointing moment for viewers who waited all night to see K.C.'s first-round pick, if Veach can pick up another day 2 choice or even a future asset by moving back a few picks, it's a move worth making. This year's draft class is more known for its quality after the blue chip contenders, which means the Chiefs could find better value by acquiring more picks in that range anyway.
Who knows if the QB rumors will even prove true, or if Veach has the patience to slide back, but the Chiefs could be in a prime position to benefit from another team's desperation to grab a quarterback late in the first.