KC Chiefs: Brett Veach is not good at being aggressive, but he excels elsewhere

KC Chiefs: Trading Dee Ford and Trading For Frank Clark

The Chiefs did well to move on from Dee Ford when they did. It was a smart choice, one that was obvious at the time and something that needed to happen. They then turned around and traded for Frank Clark, giving up a package that is more similar to what the Bears gave up for Khalil Mack than some will admit.

Clark struggled, especially in the first half of last season, only to be a terror coming off the edge in the playoffs. He then returned to incognito during the 2020 season, with minimal impact during the postseason. Entering his third season, Clark may have to set the league sack record in 2021 to be a member of the Chiefs after this season.

If and likely when the Chiefs move on from Clark after the 2021 season, two top-round picks will have been used to garner three seasons of one player, at a really high price. To be done with a player after three years after giving up what the Chiefs gave up, it’s not good value.

Okay, enough bashing Brett Veach. Time to look at what he has done well for the KC Chiefs.

Veach has done well during his time as the GM and is continuing to do well. The issue, both for fans and from afar apparently for him as well, is that being patient and conservative is his most successful course of action.

Remember I mentioned Charvarius Ward? Well, after acquiring him in a trade at the end of training camp, Ward took the field near the end of the season and has been a contributor ever since.

While the top of Veach’s drafts have been a very big mixed bag, the Chiefs have received plenty of contributions from round selections. Excuse me while I point out L’Jarius Sneed in the fourth, Rashad Fenton in the sixth, and Nick Allegretti in the seventh. Or do we point out a guy like Mike Danna who was a fifth-rounder?

Let’s even give Veach props with picks such as Juan Thornhill, the end of the second-round pick in 2019 that appears primed to be a star as he is back from a knee injury. Derrick Nnadi is a top-of-the-league run defender in the middle of the line and a great compliment to Chris Jones along the interior, found in the third round.

What happens if Lucas Niang starts this year along the offensive line after missing last season? He was a third-round pick just last year but opted out of his rookie season.

Maybe, do we point out how well this organization has done with undrafted players, such as Byron Pringle, Darrel Williams, and Tershawn Wharton? All are major contributors and important pieces to the puzzle for the team if they hope to contend again in 2021.