General managers are judged for various reasons during their tenures leading NFL teams. But compared to most items on their to-do lists, how they fare in the NFL Draft is a major part of building a successful team. That is especially true when you have some of the highest-paid stars at a given position. Hitting on cheap, young talent via the draft becomes even more paramount.
For the Kansas City Chiefs, Brett Veach will be entering his eighth go-around as GM during the draft. There have been plenty of trades on draft weekend from Veach and his staff. Overall, he has been able to find success when adding to both the offense and the defense.
What are some of the best draft picks Veach has made as Chiefs general manager? Here are the top four in his tenure so far.
4. L'Jarius Sneed
There are a few other names that just missed the list among some of the better draft picks under Brett Veach. But given the player profile of L'Jarius Sneed coming out of Louisiana Tech, to see what he grew into was a major part of Kansas City's defensive turnaround under Steve Spagnuolo.
Sneed transitioned to safety for his senior season of college football. That added versatility made him a natural in the slot upon joining the Chiefs' defense. From the jump, Sneed became a playmaker for Kansas City. He had an interception in his first career game against the Houston Texans. In total, Sneed amassed seven passes defensed and three interceptions as a rookie.
Sneed would go on to finish with 40 passes defensed and 10 interceptions over his four years with the Chiefs. Additionally, Sneed wore many hats in the secondary. He excelled in the slot. He excelled in press coverage. And in the latter stages of his tenure in K.C., Sneed became the man that traveled with the opposing number one wide receiver. His ability to frustrate some of the best pass catchers in the game helped Kansas City's defense become dominant, especially in 2023.
3. George Karlaftis
George Karlaftis will be entering his fourth career season in 2025. As a result, the overall outlook on his Kansas City tenure is still not fully complete. But in terms of the pass rushers that Veach has selected, Karlaftis has been a rare hit for the Chiefs. He was able to win a Super Bowl in each of his first two seasons. To this point in his career, Karlaftis has registered 32.5 total sacks, which includes eight of those coming in the playoffs.
He may not be seen as one of the top pass rushers in the league, but among younger defensive ends, Karlaftis has continued to grow and show up in the biggest moments. His playoff pressures and sacks have swung momentum and gotten the Chiefs' defense off the field in critical moments. If he has another admirable campaign in his fourth season, Karlaftis is likely to be one of the next contract extensions announced by Veach.
2. Creed Humphrey
Creed Humphrey was part of the offensive line makeover in 2021 following the dreadful Super Bowl LV loss. Humphrey has been one of the cleanest centers in the game at a young age. He has continuously allowed very little pressure or sacks on Patrick Mahomes. As a center, Humphrey can make a difference with his strength, his instincts, and when using his legs as a puller out in space.
Humphrey does so much for Kansas City in terms of overall protections. Getting him signed to a massive contract extension was huge for the Chiefs. That allowed them to keep their best interior blocker intact for the next stretch. Plus, Humphrey has grown into a leader even further on the Chiefs’ offense.
1. Trent McDuffie
Trent McDuffie has earned the top spot of all Veach draft picks so far. In just three seasons, McDuffie has arguably been the best nickel defender in the NFL in two of those campaigns. He even shut opposing pass catchers down on the outside this past year. His performance against Ja'Marr Chase stood out substantially from his 2024 season.
McDuffie simply does everything right. His coverage skills are smooth, both in man coverage and in zone. His footwork and movement skills are never out of sync. McDuffie has been able to impact the game with turnovers in both fumbles and interceptions. Moreover, this is a defensive back who can play bigger than what the size in your program may indicate. McDuffie is not afraid to be physical and can still look savvy in the secondary. Far and away, he has a chance to be the first cornerback that this K.C. regime gives an extension to.