Brett Veach admits NFL rules change could prompt Chiefs to prioritize specific explosive playmakers in 2025 draft
Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach held his pre-draft press conference a week before the 2025 NFL Draft, answering questions from media members and revealing some important tidbits about the upcoming draft. He left no doubt about the position group he felt was the best in this draft class, but he did have some telling comments about […]
Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach held his pre-draft press conference a week before the 2025 NFL Draft, answering questions from media members and revealing some important tidbits about the upcoming draft.
He left no doubt about the position group he felt was the best in this draft class, but he did have some telling comments about the types of players he could seek to add from that group. It all comes down to one specific change the NFL will see during the 2025 NFL season.
The league's competition committee agreed to change the NFL's kickoff rules again, moving touchbacks to the 35-yard line from the 30-yard line to incentivize kickoff returns.
A year after fundamentally altering the special teams play, the league announced on Tuesday that the competition committee had voted to move touchbacks from the 30-yard line up to the 35-yard line. The goal? Decrease the number of touchbacks and make the kickoff a more exciting play. They want to incentivize further away from teams simply kicking touchbacks, where things trended after last year's changes.
The NFL projects that this change will increase the kick return rate from less than 33% in 2024 to 60% and 70% in the 2025 season.
Chiefs targeting running backs and receivers with return specialist abilities
With a higher kick return rate expected in 2025, teams will be looking to improve their kickoff return units. That means when the Chiefs look to add players at wide receiver, running back, or other positions, they'll see value in players who can add to that facet of the game.
"Look, this kickoff rule, too. I mean, ideally, it would be advantageous for us to identify a receiver and or running back that has explosive play-making ability on both ends," Veach said. "(Nikko) Remigio did a great job. But again, we're always pushing the envelope to get 1% better, and if we can add another dynamic element to both return phases, that would be something that would make sense. So it's not just wanting to continue to add explosive play-making at the running back or the receiver position. It's also the return game."
Nikko Remigio had a strong end to the season, primarily working on the punt return unit. However, the Chiefs still lack a game-changer on the kick return unit. If they can unlock the kick return game with an explosive playmaker in 2025, it'll give their offense a substantial field position advantage.
Which 2025 NFL Draft prospects fit the mold for Kansas City?
The kick return translation is unique because the college games have not adopted NFL rules yet. That means there's a bit of projection when figuring out the types of players who will thrive there.
Kansas City's own Jaylin Noel (Iowa State) stands out because he has both kick and punt return ability. Utah State WR Jalen Royals returned nine kicks in 2024. TCU WR Savion Williams seems like a player born for the role. SMU WR-turned-RB Brashard Smith has some experience at kick return, and the body type for playing it in the NFL.
Brett Veach will undoubtedly be aware of former Delaware Blue Hen Marcus Yarns, who could find a role as a return specialist at the next level. Florida WR Elijhah Badger, Washington State WR Kyle Williams, and Virginia Tech RB Bhaysul Tuten are other names to know.
Regarding adding players with punt return experience, they've shown pre-draft interest in players like Virginia Tech's Jaylin Lane and Maryland's Tai Felton (see below). Players like Colorado State WR Tory Horton, Florida WR Chimere Dike, and Colorado WR Lahjontay Wester also make sense in this category. Don't forget about Mizzou WR Luther Burden III, who was a punt returner each of the last three seasons.
Some non-receivers or running backs to consider include Cal CB Nohl Williams and UNC CB Alizah Huzzie, who both have return specialist experience during their college careers.
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