Arrowhead Pride
What have been best picks in the Kansas City GM’s amazing draft record?
Sometimes it can be hard to calculate how well an NFL general manager does in the draft. Unless they’re fortunate enough to quickly build a competitive roster, their tenures are often too short to create a sample size big enough for a fair evaluation.
Fortunately for the Kansas City Chiefs, that hasn’t been a problem with general manager Brett Veach, who has been running the league’s most successful franchise since he took over in the summer of 2017. With eight cycles to his credit, Veach has assembled one of the league’s best draft records. His rookie picks have played a significant role in two separate roster builds that have resulted in league championships.
Here are the 10 best picks he’s made in Kansas City.
Pick 21, first round of 2022
You can argue that Trey Smith and Creed Humphrey were better values, but I’d still take McDuffie over them.
Whether in the slot or outside, McDuffie is one of the league’s best corners. He’s done everything at an All-Pro level, making him a true shutdown cornerback against any player in the league. The Denver Broncos’ Patrick Surtain II is the only other NFL player who can make that claim.
McDuffie’s rare skillset puts him at No. 1.
Pick 63, second round of 2021
Still, taking the NFL’s best center in the second round could push Humphrey to No. 1. Since he was a sixth-round pick, I wouldn’t quibble with Trey Smith at No. 2, either. I just think Humphrey is a higher-caliber player.
After the Super Bowl LV loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City had to overhaul its entire offensive line. Immediately identifying Humphrey as the man to hold the middle of the revamped line put a big feather in Veach’s cap. Humphrey will be the center for the majority of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ prime years.
Pick 226, sixth round of 2021
Smith is certainly the best value on this list. His force and strength diversified the Chiefs’ running game, changing the team’s entire offense. While he’s capable on zone runs, few players are better maulers down the middle.
Smith has had some inconsistencies in pass protection, but given his skills as a run blocker, he’s easily passed the bar the Chiefs set for him. He’s still improving, too. Through most of 2024, he was a lockdown pass protector. If that trend continues, he could rise even higher on this list.
Pick 138, fourth round of 2020
While he isn’t going to have a career as long as some of these other players, Sneed’s 2023 season — in which he was able to play at an All-Pro level — was above what any of them will put forth. You can make a credible argument that he was the second-best player on the 2023 Super Bowl...
