Chiefs: GM Brett Veach Continues to Amaze

David Bell

By now, if you have followed ArrowheadOne, you know that I have great admiration for the Kansas City Chiefs GM, Brett Veach. But now, getting to the AFC Conference Championship Game has demonstrated that Veach’s draft picks and player acquisitions ensured the Chiefs would win vs. the Bills, which is exactly what happened.

Brett “the Mavrick GM” at a Chiefs Press Conference!

Already this week we have heard from various commentators that Josh Allen is the superior QB in the AFC, ignoring Patrick Mahomes. That is, at the very least, laughable. This statement is not meant to be disrespectful to Josh Allen. I admire Allen a lot. For me, he is in the conversation about the top five QBs in the NFL. He and Patrick Mahomes are both elite QBs. Take a look at Lisa Foxx’ piece called, Chiefs: Misplaced Admiration if you haven’t already.

In 2017, Brett Veach lobbied for GM John Dorsey to draft Mahomes. Veach pleaded with HC Andy Reid with the superlatives regarding the young Texas Tech QB (“One of the best players I’ve ever seen”). He presented game tapes of Mahomes at Tech.

John Dorsey at Press Conference – Chiefs photo credit

What happened is history: Dorsey traded up from #27 to pick #10 to draft Mahomes. Keep in mind that in doing so, he traded up in front of the Bills to make the pick. The Chiefs traded the No. 27 overall pick, plus a third-round pick, and their 2018 first-round selection to the Buffalo Bills to move up to the 10th selection to select Mahomes. That’s a lot of draft capital to move up to pick a QB at #10. Mahomes played second fiddle to Alex Smith his first year in the NFL. Then Smith departed for Washington and Patrick took the reins of the Chiefs offense.

Veach took over the GM Role in in the Summer of 2017 — after the draft — when John Dorsey departed and we have not looked back since.

  • 2018 Round #2 – DL Breeland Speaks (this one was a miss)
  • 2018 Round #3 – DL Derrick Nnadi* (still playing for the Chiefs)
  • 2018 Round #3 – LB Dorian O’Daniel (he didn’t last)
  • 2018 Round #4 – CB Armani Watts*(gone in a trade)
  • 2018 Round #6 DB Tremon Smith(didn’t last)
  • 2018 Round #6 OG Kahlil McKenzie (also gone)
  • 2019 Round #2 WR Mecole Hardman* (traded away in 2022 and re-acquired in 2023)
  • 2019 Round #2 S Juan Thornhill* (allowed to depart in free agency in 2022)
  • 2019 Round #3 DT Khalin Saunders (now departed)
  • 2019 Round #6 CB Rashad Fenton* (gone as a Free Agent)
  • 2019 Round #6 RB Darwin Thompson(didn’t last)
  • 2019 Round #7 IOL Nick Allegretti* (super Sub OG and OC – Will Play in the AFCCG)
  • 2020 Round #1 RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire* (still playing though now as the #2 RB)
  • 2020 Round #2 LB Willie Gay* (a key LB with side-line-to-side-line speed)
  • 2020 Round #3 OT Lucas Niang*(still a Chief)
  • 2020 Round #4 CB L’Jarius Sneed* (Ace pick, let’s hope we can retain him)
  • 2020 Round #5 DE Mike Danna* (In the DL rotation at DE)
  • 2020 Round #7 CB BoPete Keyes (now departed – had high hopes for Keyes)
  • 2021 Round #2 LB Nick Bolton* (stellar LB and Green Dot)
  • 2021 Round #2 OC Creed Humphrey* (ace Pick – though a lefty)
  • 2021 Round #4 DE Joshua Kaindoh (has never fulfilled expectations and is now gone)
  • 2021 Round #5 TE Noah Gray* (part of the TE Rotation)
  • 2021 Round #5 WR Cornell Powell (still a Chief but has not passed muster yet, PS)
  • 2021 Round #6 OG Trey Smith* (Ace Pick!)
  • 2022 Round #1 CB Trent McDuffie* (Ace Pick!)
  • 2022 Round #1 DE George Karlaftis* (Ace Pick)
  • 2022 Round #2 WR Skyy Moore (disappointed with Moore so far)
  • 2022 Round #2 S Bryan Cook* (Ace Pick)
  • 2022 Round #3 LB Leo Chenal* (integral to the LB rotation)
  • 2022 Round #4 CB Joshua Williams* (integral to the CB rotation)
  • 2022 Round #5 OT Darian Kinnard* (thought he would climb into the roster – on the PS)
  • 2022 Round #7 CB Jaylen Watson* (integral to the CB rotation)
  • 2022 Round #7 RB Isiah Pacheco* (Ace Pick, now the Chiefs feature RB)
  • 2022 Round #7 S Nazeeh Johnson* (on the IR but expect a lot from him in 2024)
  • 2023 Round 1 Edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah (jury is still out)
  • 2023 Round 2 WR Rashee Rice* (Ace pick, has turned heads around the NFL)
  • 2023 Round 3 OT Wayna Morris* (achieved starter status, I judge this as an Ace Pick)
  • 2023 Round 4 S Chamarri Connor* (over-achieved and stepped up due to injuries in the Division-Round Game)
  • 2023 Round 5 Edge BJ Thompson (jury is out)
  • 2023 Round 6 DI Keondre Coburn (liked him, has signed elsewhere)
  • 2023 Round 7 CB Nic Jones (showed promise in 2023-can play outside or in the slot)

Above you can see the draft picks by Brett Veach. I note players of import with an * asterisk and indicate whether or not players were “Ace Picks.” As you can see, as each draft year progressed, in the later years he’s had more players of importance as time went along. That’s one reason that I think Brett Veach has been an amazing GM. He’s progressed.

What’s next? See the players acquired by Veach and how they figure in importance for the remainder of the postseason.

Reid at Orchard Park after the Chief’s win – Chiefs Photo credit

KC Signed Safety Deon Bush and he has also played an important role in 2023 and now the post-season!

KC Signed ROT Jawaan Taylor – who started all of 2023 at Right Tackle.

KC signed LOT Donovan Smith – who started all of 2023 as LOT.

Before the 2023 Draft, Brett Veach noted the various signings and how they fit the roster picture. He said:

Veach went on to observe about WR Richie James:

KC signed WR Richie James. It’s obvious from Veach’s remarks that the Chiefs liked what was possible when they signed James. I think James put an exclamation mark on his signing.

KC Signed LB Drue Tranquill who fills in as the Green Dot LB and forms a solid triumvirate at LB. When Nick Bolton was out injured, Drue took over play-calling duty. When Willie Gay was injured in the division-round playoff game vs. the Bills, Tranquill stepped up and played a great game. Signing Tranquill was an Ace move by Brett Veach.

Adapted from ArrowheadAddict.com

Edwards scoops up a loose ball and scores vs. the Chargers!-Ashley Landis Photo Credit

Let me be transparent. As time went by, each year’s draft saw increased value in those players drafted, even in later rounds. As I have shown above, Brett Veach made player acquisitions that have been crucially important to the Chiefs in 2023 and beyond:

Yes, our GM has his work cut out for him this coming offseason but, I’d say our Brett “the Maverick” Veach has done an amazing job as the Chiefs General Manager!

What say you?

David Bell — ArrowheadOne