Since taking over as the Kansas City Chiefs general manager in 2018, Brett Veach has quickly become a household name, and for good reason. Veach was the mastermind behind the Chiefs' going after Patrick Mahomes in the 2017 draft, and worked with Andy Reid in Philadelphia before following him over to KC.
Like any GM, Veach is under heavy pressure to think three steps ahead in every aspect of the brutal business of professional football. And while he’s going to have some misses in the draft and free agency, he’s consistently provided the coaching staff with enough talent to create the dynastic run the Chiefs have achieved during the Mahomes era.
Picking Veach’s best successes in his first nine years as GM is not easy to choose from. From a generational 2022 draft class, including Trent McDuffie, George Karlaftis, Leo Chenal, Bryan Cook, and Jaylen Watson, to drafting building blocks along the offensive line in Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, and Josh Simmons. Tyrann Mathieu and Frank Clark will forever be Chiefs legends for what they provided the Chiefs to win the franchise's first Super Bowl in 50 years in 2019.
Brett Veach disrespected by GM poll despite dynastic success
The above examples of what Veach has accomplished are just a few, but they further explain the bigger picture that has been one of the best front office members in the entire NFL since taking the job. However, for whatever reason, Rotoworld’s latest GM poll ranked Veach fifth in the league.
This comes as quite a shock, given how well Veach has performed over the last decade, but it also points to the fact that the Chiefs' 2025 season, in which they went 6-11, has damaged both the team’s reputation and the fear they would put in their opponents as opposed to years past.
Both Mahomes and Reid have had to deal with their fair share of shoulder shrugs and disrespect over the last couple of years, so it really should come as no surprise to see Veach dealt the same poor hand. This latest offseason may have been the most important of recent memory for the Chiefs, and Veach has swung for the fences on multiple accounts.
Signing Kenneth Walker III to a big-money deal signifies a change in belief systems that the Chiefs plan to invest in the running game and take pressure off of Mahomes. Giving defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga and safety Alohi Gilman three-year deals also signals a desire to get veteran voices in the room with lots of athleticism and experience to pass on to a defense that is getting younger and faster.
Whether you believe Veach’s ranking to be justified or not, there is no mistake that the impact this year’s free agent additions and draft picks have on the future, and the next era of Mahomes-led football will greatly impact Veach's standing and the Chiefs' standing in the league.
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