Chiefs GM Brett Veach: Building the Roster

Chiefs GM Brett Veach:

Building the Roster

by David Bell | March 12, 2019

The Combine is in the rearview Mirror. Pro-Days are going on and they’re an important part of the work Brett Veach and crew have on their plate while working the Chiefs internal Free Agent Board. In the meantime they’re also preparing for the Big Board of the draft. Even before Free Agency started, Veach signed a RB and during the “Tampering Time” (which began yesterday) he has a commitment for a Free Agent Safety.

A Shift in Emphasis is Occurring Again: the First Day of Tampering Bears Fruit

Chiefs to Sign Tyrann Mathieu, Safety – LSU–3 yrs, $42M.

This is a superb signing by Brett Veach and locks up the back end of the secondary — Good hands, great tackler and aerial defender. Mathieu stated in a tweet he liked  the Money but wanted the ring (badly — another tweet said 2019 was a season to see his scars bleed).

You can probably take a poll of ArrowheadOne followers and contributors who have been fans since 63. I am one of those. I want Mathieu here, wanting the ring and getting it! I tweeted to him earlier this evening.

So, what else might I see while peeking at my crystal ball:

1. With the Signing of Free Agent RB Carlos Hyde, Brett Veach is not going to re-sign Spencer Ware.

2. I think this will open the door to Darrell Williams, the LSU RB to get more carries. It could be a drafted rookie or a UDFA, but Williams and Williams fit well last season and Darrell will be an economical fit as well.

3. Charcandrick West and Demetrius Harris are not re-tendered.

4. I see Dee Ford Traded out, and to the Chiefs advantage in regaining $15.4M in cap space and acquiring draft picks in the process.

5. We have already released Justin Houston (official on Wednesday) and will realize $14M in cap recapture (true, there is dead money cost as well).

6. Because Demetrius Harris will not be tendered — a draftee or F/A signing will be necessary to replace him (this is certainly going to rise in import in the draft).

7. I have gained even more certainty that there is a good possibility that Eric Berry will be a post-June 1 release. If not, and if indeed Berry’s heel is completely healed come camp time? The Chiefs Secondary is going to be top notch at the Safety position: Mathieu, Berry and Watts to begin with. An acquaintance is already hollering to bring Adrian Amos on Board.  Even if the Chiefs retain Berry another season or two, it is near the end of his career as I also observe, he is a favorite player (as DJ was for me as well). While others feel that way about Hali and Houston it’s obvious that an era is ending but a new one beckons. I believe we will see multiple Lombardi’s adorning the Kingdom Halls at Arrowhead Stadium soon.

8. We should see Cap Savings of more than $39M, jettisoning a hefty bunch of contracts providing the ability of GM Brett Veach to rebuild the defense and prepare the team for the future. That includes perhaps 5 or even 6 picks in the top 100 players of this draft.

A Cap Savings Summary (Possibly):

The Cap Savings that could happen:

• If all this occurs, the savings is pretty large in terms of players not retained: about $13M-to-$15M in funds not spent on West, Harris and Bailey.
• Justin Houston’s release – $14.0M
• A Dee Ford trade – $15.4M

Subtotal: $29.4M added Cap Savings to the approximate $9M-to-$10M available before Houston’s release.

• Post June 1st Release – Eric Berry – $9.8M (this isn’t a stated objective by the Chiefs or the GM), but if he is released, it would add  this to the Cap gain.

Hefty Salaries Remaining

At this point, that would leave three hefty salaries:  Eric Berry (S), Eric Fisher (LT), and Sammy Watkins (WR). Watkins departs with his contract ending with the 2019 season (in all likelihood).

Fisher is another story. Never fulfilled his #1 draft pick level of performance. He is basically a solid above average tackle. It will be time to rid the Chiefs of that $15M or more, asap. That’s a future topic as is Watkins for that matter. Berry is going to be a two-year deal as he gets down to the end of his 6 year contract.

Updating the Draft With Shifted Emphasis

Brett Veach stated that the Chiefs already have in House two Defensive Ends for Steve Spagnuolo to work with, Breeland Speaks and Tanoh Kpassagnon. He stated:

“..I think this scheme change will be good for Kpass… He and Breeland (Speaks) are more of your traditional 4-3 defensive ends. And I think that we’re excited for Steve (Spagnuolo) and Brendan Daly to get their hands on them…”

This is a statement of direction with two specific players and how Veach(and Steve Spagnuolo and CO) are planning to use them. 

It should be obvious to all of us, but I will make this observation for you to get a clear view of what Veach is intending and why: With the 34 Defense neither Speaks or Kpassagnon were a great fit. They could play the position but both are 43 type DE’s with a hand in the dirt!. Getting back to that origin is what Veach is calling attention to. This is the origin of their playing collegiate ball. Breeland Speaks has flashed some good stuff as a rookie and it took Kpass a bit longer but you could see it as the 2018 season was drawing to a close. You don’t keep 2nd round picks sitting on the bench. You use them. I am comfortable with this plan.That is not to say that Veach shouldn’t draft a DE. It is to say that if we were going after a Defensive Lineman, it should be a monster DT to work opposite Chris Jones. Several players come to mind in this draft.

Let me point out again: Both Kpassagnon and Speaks were round 2 picks in 2017 and 2018.

What are the F/A and Draft Necessities Now? Check marks next to RB & Safety.

The Amended list of players needed is now: CB, ILB, TE, DT, C, DE and along with the “right” WR. I think that the Chiefs have the Center position covered with Austin Reiter. There’s also a good chance the Chiefs could re-sign a CB who is doing a bang up job in the AFF league: Keith Reaser. Reaser was on the Chiefs roster last summer and if he comes back to KC, it would make the drafting process much easier. Veach has spoken about his approach to Free Agency and the draft where he indicated he would seek a safety in Free Agency aggressively and a top CB in the draft. He has already covered two of the exposures (RB and Safety) we could all see staring us in the face after the 2018 season.

David Bell – ArrowheadOne

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