'If it's reasonable, I think we'll be aggressive' – Chiefs GM Brett Veach discusses draft strategy, prospects with first-round grades
Crazy things can happen during the first round of the NFL draft. The Kansas City Chiefs have been a part of the madness, such as when they traded up to select quarterback Patrick Mahomes in 2017, or when they leapfrogged the Buffalo Bills to take cornerback Trent McDuffie in 2022. Could the Chiefs make some […]
Crazy things can happen during the first round of the NFL draft.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been a part of the madness, such as when they traded up to select quarterback Patrick Mahomes in 2017, or when they leapfrogged the Buffalo Bills to take cornerback Trent McDuffie in 2022.
Could the Chiefs make some noise in the 2025 NFL Draft? That first depends on how many prospects general manager Brett Veach and his staff have labeled with first-round grades. While speaking to the media on Thursday, Veach admitted that there aren't as many this year.
"I think it's probably a tick down," Veach said about the number of first-round grades he has on this year's draft prospects. "I think typically in years past, that number has been anywhere from 15 to 18, even 19. I think the last I checked it was right around 12 or 13 [this year]. So it is lower, although I will say that the secondary wave of guys that are in the late [first] round, high [second round] consideration, that number is probably a little higher. So hopefully that provides a little bit more flexibility on both ends. I think that top-end number is just a tick down from years past, and I think we have a pretty consistent game plan year in and year out."
Despite not having as many first-round grades on prospects this year, Veach went on to say that if a player that they like slides down the board, the Chiefs won't hesitate to trade up to get him.
"If they were to fall into a reasonable landing spot, I'm sure we would make some calls," Veach said. "Typically it's unlikely to happen, but we all know a few years ago, it did happen with Trent McDuffie. So, that will be kind of our mindset again, and we'll see if it works. I don't think it'd make too much sense for us to, we need all these picks to add depth on multiple fronts and secondaries and receivers, so trading multiple picks to just get one piece doesn't really make sense. But I think if a guy really does fall into the 20s, if it's reasonable, I think we'll be aggressive."
Players take surprising falls down draft boards almost every year, and if it's someone who the Chiefs really like, Veach has shown in the past that he'll do what he needs to do in order to acquire him. If Kansas City stands pat at No. 31, it will still likely get a quality player.