Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach signals he’s learned from a costly mistake that hurt the defense in 2025
The Kansas City Chiefs’ plan at defensive line wasn’t good enough in 2025. Brett Veach told reporters on Thursday that they’ve got some work to do on the interior and at edge rusher in the 2026 NFL Draft.
One of the Kansas City Chiefs’ biggest failures of the 2025 NFL season came on the defensive line.
They overestimated the growth, development, and impact of certain players, while not addressing other spots with aging starters. The team added some talent in the 2025 NFL Draft at both the edge rusher and interior defensive line positions. However, Ashton Gillotte and Omarr Norman-Lott weren’t enough. Chiefs GM Brett Veach made it clear during his pre-draft presser that he doesn’t want to repeat the same mistakes in 2026.
Ahead of free agency, I felt there was a sense that the Chiefs could overcorrect on the defensive line. Not in a needless way, but in the same way they once did on the offensive line.
“If there’s one position group I could see the typical Brett Veach overcorrection for this offseason, it’s the defensive line, both the interior and the edge rushers. I’m told the feeling on the personnel side is that they left a few too many things to chance during the 2025 NFL offseason. Injuries, a lack of development from draft picks, and certain UDFAs not taking a step forward all contributed to a down year for that group. The strategy on the interior defensive line, with a trade to reacquire Derrick Nnadi and bringing Mike Pennel back midseason, is one the team is not too keen to repeat.”
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They added Khyiris Tonga in free agency, but Veach knows they still have more work to do across the D-Line.
Chiefs GM Brett Veach gearing up to reinforce the interior D-Line during the 2026 NFL Draft
The Chiefs’ plan for the defensive interior in 2025 was head-scratching. They let Derrick Nnadi walk in free agency in 2025 and released Mike Pennel in roster cuts. They did that only to bring Nnadi back via trade and Pennel back at midseason. This year, they lost Derrick Nnadi and Jerry Tillery to the Indianapolis Colts in free agency. Mike Pennel remains a free agent.
Combine that with Omarr Norman-Lott coming off an ACL injury, and there’s still a substantial need on the interior defensive line. Even with the addition of Tonga in free agency.
“When you come into the offseason, and you look at our defensive line, you have DT Chris Jones and DT Omarr Norman-Lott, who’s coming off an injury,” Veach said on Thursday. “I still think that we need two more. (Khyiris) Tonga was a guy that had a great season, and he gives us a little bit more of an athletic nose that does have some pass rush ability, but even with the addition of Tonga, I still think that we’re a few short there, so that will certainly be a definite position of need for us entering next week.”
In 2025, they might have relied on the desire to develop a guy like Zacch Pickens or Marcus Harris. Now, it seems Veach doesn’t want to leave it up to chance. He wants to add some pieces to raise the floor in the interior defensive line room and create greater competitive depth.
The Chiefs haven’t forgotten about the edge rusher need either
Even beyond the interior defensive line, it’s clear the Chiefs are looking intently at the edge rusher position. They similarly have Felix Anudike-Uzomah coming off a season-ending injury, and two offseason departures with Mike Danna and Charles Omenihu. The big difference is that Kansas City didn’t sign an edge rusher in free agency.
“I feel like we’ve brought in every defensive end in the NFL Draft that could be drafted this weekend. We must’ve brought in 12 of those guys,” Veach said. “Again, that’s because grades are so close, and you may have the opportunity to get one of those guys at No. 9 and maybe No. 29.”
After a 2025 NFL season in which the defensive line was a weakness, Veach wants to flip the script. They know it’ll make Chris Jones and the entire defense better if they have better support in the defensive trenches. It’s a trickle-down effect to the linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties, too.