KC Chiefs: Brett Veach and Andy Reid shoulder blame for roster issues
By John McCarty
Good teams understand what the true value of draft picks are while Veach apparently fails to grasp the basic concepts.
When Brett Veach was speaking with Soren Petro during training camp before last season on Sports Radio 810, I remember Petro asking him about trading up or down. Veach said something like “trade up, be aggressive”.
In years since, it’s quite apparent. Veach may very well think being aggressive is the way to go. The problem is, that’s not what he’s good at. In fact, since taking over, he’s been close to atrocious.
I’ve said it many times before, but good teams understand why draft picks are so valuable. For the sake of this discussion, I will use Mecole Hardman as an example.
As a second round selection on a four-year rookie deal, he signed a contract after the draft that was four years at $4.995 million. Not per season, no no, in total. Even if Hardman is never a star, simply being able to produce, at that cap number he provides the Chiefs excellent value and that is why continuing to trade away draft picks doesn’t make sense and often doesn’t pay off unless you are a team targeting a player that can immediately ball out.
The Chiefs have traded up for players to ensure they don’t play in the right position and don’t easily contribute, but that’s okay because they continually trade up and trade away picks. They don’t have the mid round picks to add developmental depth.
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Imagine if the Chiefs had a second year offensive lineman capable of helping and or competing for the starting center or guard position instead of the left side of the offensive line being a turnstile.
With the exception of Derrick Nnadi, I don’t expect a member of the 2018 draft class to be back with the team after this season. Offensive/defensive lineman Khalil McKenzie has already been released, as has kick returner Tremon Smith.
The Chiefs, after this season, will need to address depth at receiver, offensive line, tight end and maybe even running back. And that’s without discussing the needs at all levels on defense.
A terrible draft choice that is rarely discussed is 2018 sixth rounder Khalil McKenzie. I’m not going to get overly upset about a sixth rounder not working out, but the logic or lack there of on this selection is concerning.
The Chiefs needed depth along their line, and with Zach Fulton having left for Houston as a free agent and Mitch Morse constantly facing issues with concussions, someone that could play center would have been great.
On the board when the Chiefs traded up were Bradley Bozeman, starting center from Alabama and Will Clapp, starting center from LSU. McKenzie played defensive tackle at Tennessee. What?
Bozeman is currently starting at left guard for the Ravens while Clapp is the backup center for the Saints. McKenzie is currently on the practice squad for the Seattle Seahawks. Life would certainly feel better as a Chiefs fan if they had an offensive lineman worthy of an NFL roster spot instead of a project.