Uncle You Bet
The Kansas City Chiefs General Manager, Brett Veach, has been catching flack –> for the Chiefs players not playing good football. I’ve seen some people alluding to the fact that he missed the boat in 2021. How, exactly, did he do that? I’ve also seen critiques for the misses that have occurred in past drafts. Sure, but name one GM anywhere that doesn’t have choices that he would take back a year or two after deciding to draft a player. So, let’s do a review, and if you pick up that I am irritated, then I will say to you, “Uncle You Bet”!
Let’s Review Brett Veach in the 2021 Offseason
Round 1 pick: – LOT Orlando Brown
Veach used the 1st and 3rd (essentially) to get Pro Bowl LT Orlando Brown. In the process, Veach obtained a 2nd round, pick #26, in the exchange, while giving up the 3rd round choice, but don’t forget, that’s added-value. Brown was a valid Grade “A” draft pick, a two-time Pro-Bowl talent — who made the Pro Bowl at both right and left tackle — for a depleted offensive line, the team’s weakest link, at the time. With the added-value choice of obtaining a 2nd rounder, pick #58 overall, Veach obtained Nick Bolton (btw, he plays defense). Good-to-Great choice. To top it off, Brown recognizes that, “He has not yet played his top football.”
Round 2, pick 26 – LB Nick Bolton
Most of the time I read that you cannot depend upon a round-two player to be an immediate starter and that is true. LB Nick Bolton on the other hand, though not a starter is playing starter quality football. The Chiefs coaching staff had to bring him forward quickly due to the injury to Willie Gay in the last preseason game. He’s played very well, is learning as he plays, and was a Grade “A” Draft Pick at #2. Not only that, but as a player Brett Veach chose first in this draft, Bolton was drafted to the Defensive Side of the Ball. This is where a ton of criticism has been leveled at Brett Veach, yet his first draft pick was a linebacker!
Round 2, Pick 32 – OC Creed Humphrey
I recall that Creed was not my choice as a Center –> because he was left-handed. That turned out not to be a complete factor in Veach’s choice. Creed Humphrey is anchoring the Interior Offensive Line and doing a remarkable job of it and is grading out as a top Center in the NFL and among the top pass-blocking Offensive Linemen of the NFL. This was Grade “A” Pick #3.
Round 3 Choice Gone
Admittedly, because of the trade to get Orlando Brown, the Chiefs sent round-3’s draft pick to Baltimore… however… in return received pick 26 of Round 2 from the Ravens. That was the “added-value” factor, effectively moving up to round 2 for the third-round selection. Since this was the case, KC had no third-round draft choice, or a much improved 2nd round pick… if you want to look at it that way. Which, I do.
Rounds 4-7: Late-round Draft Picks
Obtaining a starter quality player in those rounds seldom happens so, let’s skip beyond both Josh Kaindoh (#144) and Cornell Powell (#181). However, l want to point out that Josh Kaindoh had game snaps in Week Four. That does indicate that the Chiefs have a good deal of faith in him. How far that will go remains to be seen… but he’s another player for the defense chosen in the 2021 draft. Also taken was TE Noah Gray at pick #162 overall. He is on the Active Roster while Cornell Powell has been assigned to the Practice Squad.
This gets me to the final point about this draft: Trey Smith.
Round 6: OG Trey Smith
In round 6, Brett Veach obtained the “Steal of the 2021 Draft” by selecting UTenn OG, Trey Smith, a Round 6, Grade “A” draft pick. This was draft pick #4 “Grade A” pick of the 2021 draft for Veach. Tucker Franklin of SI.com says of this pick:
“This is one of the best picks Brett Veach made in his tenure. Trey Smith is a tremendous talent at the interior offensive line positions. Veach has continued the offensive line overhaul and added Smith for some strong depth. He’s a guy that has worked with offensive line guru Duke Manyweather and boasts a large frame and a powerful play style.”
Hmm… “one of the best picks Brett Veach made in his tenure“… hmm. That may indicate that Brett Veach is getting better at drafting each year, not worse. Together with Creed Humphrey, Smith has been highly rated among all Offensive Linemen with 100+ snaps and he’s taken 100% of the Chiefs Offensive snaps this year. Again, that is identifying both players as high quality players. Right here. Right now.
Let me reiterate: Orlando Brown, Nick Bolton, Creed Humphrey, and Trey Smith were “GRADE-A” draft decisions… and are still proving it.
So… just how did Veach do a sleepy Van Veach in this Draft?
Are you saying that late-round picks of Powell, Gray, and Smith were bad picks? Somehow I doubt that is your focus. Are you saying that Brown, Bolton, and Humphrey were the wrong choice? Somehow, I am sure that is not the focus of those complaining about Veach. Trey Smith was a masterful pick-up by Veach in Round 6. His choice of Smith proved every other team’s GM was wrong and it shows that Trey Smith was actually a: no-brainer choice.
The Defense is Not Good: I Get It
I don’t like where the defense is at, at this point, either. I’m unhappy with the coaching and I’m unhappy with the fact that the players are not doing what needs to be done, and I’m in no way excusing DC Steve Spagnuolo nor his assistants. I’ve already heaped the responsibility for the woes of the KC defense at their feet in an article just last week.
Job One for Veach Was Not Focusing on Defense, This Offseason
In the offseason of 2021, Brett Veach’s JOB ONE was to completely refurbish the OL. Period, and he gets an “A” grade for that. No. That is wrong. Brett Veach’s 2021 NFL offseason work and the 2021 Draft earns him an “A+” grade. Mission Accomplished! He completely rebuilt a starting OL unit and ensured experienced depth in the background. He did all that and remember, this draft was not supposed to be aimed at the defense.
Review His Choices From Their 2021 Performances
Nick Bolton: the Mizzou Linebacker whose play has improved every outing. Even against the Bills, Bolton stood out. I’d count that as a success already “my own dang self.” He will get better and improve game after game. This second-round draft pick gets at least an “A.” He may prove far better than just this assessment.
Creed Humphrey and Bolton: Picks 1 and 2, both in the second round and Creed Humphrey is now the top rated OC in the NFL.
Trey Smith: has already become a top Offensive Guard in the NFL and has a 73.4 PFF grade.
Let’s Get Real and Leave Emotions Out of It
C’mon gang, let’s get real. We all knew what Veach was facing with having lost Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Kelechi Osemele, and the starting bookend OTs in Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher. You were not hollering and stomping your feet to draft DE’s, LB’s or CB’s. You all were worrying — as was I — that Veach could not possibly manage to get us out of the deep hole the Chiefs express was in with regards to the OL’s Front Five.
I am having difficulty seeing so many turn to the blame game — for not drafting a DL — against GM Brett Veach altogether.
Credit Where Credit is Due
This draft deserves all the credos that can be heaped upon it… and Veach. So does his offseason work. I think you will have difficulty critiquing any of these draft picks or offseason moves, or even the move to get WR Josh Gordon on board. He is the type of player that we obtained. Don’t forget, Veach also signed Defensive Tackle, Jarran Reed, as a Free Agent this offseason, thinking he could help out on the IDL. Reed just hasn’t panned out the way everyone thought he would. Is that Veach’s fault?
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Even if you want to say that late round picks could have been better used on Defensive players, choosing Trey Smith in round 6 was a huge win by Veach, which was also a coup over every other NFL GM. Although this story isn’t about doing well at the — back end of a draft — picking up a 6-foot-5, 329 lbs. starter adds icing to his “Job-One-Done Cake.”
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Now, how is it that the Brett Veach failed in this draft ugliness motif become a narrative or topic of discourse??? It’s plain hogwash. Exactly where and how could Veach have accomplished the “Job-One” task, and somehow have failed to address Job-Two? That was a non-factor from any circle of conversation by Chiefs pundits and authors who had entertained the subject of the Chiefs greatest needs, from the time of the loss of Super Bowl LV until week 4 of this season. I fail to suddenly see how this is a Brett Veach problem that had to be addressed beyond what was done to prep for the 2021 season.
Y’all go on and second guess yourselves, you who are smoking left-handed cigarettes, as it’s messing up your thinking. There is no such thing as –> Rip Van Veach. There is, a GM who leads, owns up to mistakes, and corrects them — publicly.
I fail to grasp the “Brett Veach is Asleep at the Wheel” notion, at all. I have completely disputed that ideation and say it’s nonsense, and rather, should be in an A.A. Milne book. One quote that would stand out is the “Chiefs coaches and players are not organized.” Winnie-the-Pooh captures the appropriate view of the state of all-things-Chiefs right now (see below), but be clear, that is not blame to be heaped at the feet of Christopher Robin… er, Brett Veach. The surprises are not pleasant, rather taking ownership falls to the players and coaches.
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I rest my case, which can go to the jury now, or a messy toy box. Your choice.
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David Bell — ArrowheadOne
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