We already know the Kansas City Chiefs' priorities in this draft, but Brett Veach just gave us more intel.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been focusing on three different position groups in their draft prep to date: edge rusher, offensive line and receiver. We know those are the positions GM Brett Veach values most in the draft, but until now we haven’t gotten much info or intel about which one might be the most viable.
Now we do know, at least a little. According Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Veach provided some hints about which one might be the choice, as he gave a pointed summary about the offensive line talent in this draft, which is strong in the first round but not so much after that.
“I think you’re gonna get a massive run of offensive linemen from 10 to 25,” Veach said. “Offensive line, there’s some talent there, but I do think it dries up quickly, and by 35, it could be slim pickings. . . . Maybe it extends to pick 35 or 40.”
The Chiefs have three picks in that range, with No. 9, No. 29 and No. 40 to possibly use in this area. Veach’s summary doesn’t pin him down to using a specific pick, of course, but given his statements at the combine, it does indicate that offensive line won’t be one of the three priorities that winds up being shifted to the later rounds.
According to Smith and most other observers, Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa is expected to be first off the board in the top ten. There hasn’t been a lot of intel so far directly connecting the Chiefs to Mauigoa, but that doesn’t necessarily mean much.
Smith also listed some other first round candidates, with the names including Utah’s Spencer Fano, Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor, Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane, Clemson’s Blake Miller and Texas A&M’s Chase Bisontis.
The one name here that’s been strongly connected to Kansas City is Proctor, who’s done a draft visit with the Chiefs as he’s risen up the board. Fano is another strong possibility, but the rest are mostly just names from the outside looking in.
Separating these players is why Veach and coach Andy Reid get paid the big bucks, and it’s going to be a tricky task. The sorting out process will start in the top ten, and Veach will hope that at least one candidate he wants falls to No. 29, with someone from this group being a long shot at No. 40.
The Chiefs have a lot of maneuverability next week, but some of this is going to get sorted out very quickly once the selection process starts.