GM Brett Veach discusses a strategy that the Chiefs haven't executed much to help them acquire more picks in the 2025 NFL Draft
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has a reputation for being aggressive and trading up during drafts to get the players he wants. Trading down isn't something Veach has done a lot of throughout his tenure in Kansas City, as he explained while speaking to the media on Thursday. "I don't think it's as common as […]
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has a reputation for being aggressive and trading up during drafts to get the players he wants.
Trading down isn't something Veach has done a lot of throughout his tenure in Kansas City, as he explained while speaking to the media on Thursday.
"I don't think it's as common as as people think," Veach said about fielding calls from other teams to trade down. "Obviously, we've certainly traded more up than down. We've been picking late every round, so maybe those teams that are in the top end of the round or the middle rounds, they get a little bit more action in regards to phone calls throughout the week. In the last four or five years, I don't remember getting a ton of calls on Day 1."
One specific situation that could prompt Veach to trade down is if a team wants to move up to select a quarterback. Teams that are QB needy tend to be aggressive, especially in the first round. Veach said he is prepared for that possibility.
"I think it's a common topic of teams trading up for the quarterback to get the fifth-year option," Veach said. "So, maybe this is a year that happens, and there's a team that wants to draft early and get a really good player, and then maybe come up and draft a quarterback and get that that fifth year."
Veach also mentioned that he doesn't have as many first-round grades on draft prospects this year, which could also prompt him to be more willing to trade down.
"I think typically in years past, that number (of first-round grades) has been anywhere from 15 to 18, even 19," Veach said. "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."
If the Chiefs stay put at No. 31 overall, the players left on the board likely won't have much disparity. If that is the case, trading down to acquire more picks would be ideal, and they will still be able to land a player the caliber of what they would have gotten at 31. More picks equate to more depth for K.C.'s roster, which we saw just last season is vital to have.