Been a huge fan of the creative children’s book writer, Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) for as long as I can recall and why wouldn’t I be, I spent 39 years in the classroom. With that kind of creativity in mind let’s take a new look at some of the issues facing the Kansas City Chiefs right now with draft approaching in less than a week now.
Veach Speech
The Kansas City Chiefs General Manager, Brett Veach, spoke on Thursday in a conference call with the media. Here’s some of what he had to say:
“Obviously, it’s good to have the 32nd pick in the draft, knowing that you’re Super Bowl champs. When you’re sitting at 32 — we all look at the mock drafts and do our own mock drafts — the only issue with that is that there are just so many variables. There’s always a couple of twists and turns in the draft, but the further down you are, there are going to be more twists and turns…. at 32 as opposed to at 10. If you’re sitting there at 10 there are only so many things that can happen… by the time you get to 32, there could be two or three scenarios. Not that we don’t anticipate, because in the last few days I feel like we went through every scenario possible.”
Two or three scenarios? Oh my, I would think there could be dozens. However, when you have every other GM on speed dial and the NFL have a Skye-type page with all the GMs on it so maybe Veach already knows how most teams will lean in any given pick. Still, “two or three scenarios? Veach goes on:
“There are certain positions where we feel good in the first 2-3 rounds. There are certain positions that aren’t as deep. But I think you guys have kind of seen our approach with free agency and just being able to always stick to the best player available philosophy. We’re not just trying to build this thing for next year, but for the next 5-10 years. So to sit here and say a certain position isn’t in need, we don’t really look at it like that, because we’re looking at the roster 2-3 years from now.”
While I believe everything Brett Veach is saying here… I believe nothing Brett Veach is saying here. Does he want players who can help the Chiefs for the next 5-to-10 years, or 2-to-3 years from now? Sure, but he needs some help right now. He’s just laying that out there to make other GMs think he needs nothing going into the draft… when actually he does. Doesn’t he?
Bump Update
Back in early January I wrote about “The Bump Method” and that it would play a big role in determining the Chiefs pick. As draft day draws closer each year the inevitable, slide or rise, in draft stock is part of the drama that grips every prospect, and whether you are Tua Tagovailoa or Orlando Brown from two years ago, the eventual placement of these players has an effect on every other selection as the ripples are felt throughout the draft board and in every war room in the league. What’s really happening there is what I call the Bump Method.
OC Cesar Ruiz, S Grant Delpit, CB A.J. Terrell and LB Zack Baun can all be found on DrafTek picks 35-39 and all of those players have spent time in the top 32 this spring. If they’re all available come draft day, things will be a-hoppin’ and a-bumpin’ the Chiefs way for sure.
In Gil Brandt’s Top 150, which I critiqued a few days ago, he has these players available at pick #32 where Brett Veach is currently scheduled to select the next Kansas City Chief next Thursday:
You could make a case for almost everyone of those prospects to land as the Chiefs 32nd pick. In a recent mock, Walter Football has these DBs available: CB, Damon Arnette at 32, S, Trevon Diggs at 34, S, Antoine Winfield Jr. at 36, and CB A.J. Terrell 37. Earlier in the draft season, Arnette spent time in the 2nd or 3rd rounds. Now, he taking quite a bumping. Generally speaking, there are some tantalizing choices here.
Belichick v Brady
Not that anyone in Chiefs Kingdom really cares but… I’m hoping — realistically — that both Belichick and Brady finish just outside the playoffs, with exactly the same 9-7 record. For Brady, that means taking a 7-and-9 team and helping them win two more games. For Belichick, that means his Brady-less Pats will have lost 3 more games than they lost last year. Why do I care? Because… if they both win big and go to the playoffs, then the 2021 offseason will be filled with so much more endless BB Debating that I would eventually gag on stale air. If one wins and goes the the playoffs, the BB Debate will rage on as to who was responsible for their dynasty. The endless droning on and on is what I am wanting to cease. Perhaps no outcome will stop the interminable chattering and gnashing of teeth. A reigning Super Bowl winning Chiefs Kingdom fan can dream can’t he.
RB BEPA
The clamoring over the possibility of the Chiefs taking a running back with their first overall pick in this draft is reaching a fever pitch as well. Several analysts continue to select a RB in their mocks for the Chiefs and I’m beginning to wonder if they know something that we don’t? Each seems to say something like… Andy Reid will do whatever he can to ensure that his offense is a scoring machine. Maybe the idea of Reid scoring 50 points per game is just too enticing to them. Certainly it is to me. You may recall that in 2018, the defense was so bad that most Chiefs fans thought, “That’s okay, we’ll just outscore everyone” and although that seemed to be a popular bend, the reality of the 2019 Super Bowl Chiefs has been: if we can’t outscore you, we’ll stop you in your tracks. Personally, I’d like to see the Chiefs continue to do both but with significant holes at LB and CB, I’d be fairly disappointed if Mr. Veach didn’t go with one of those early on next Thursday.
Laddie Morse –ArrowheadOne
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