Chiefs have options with 2 first-round picks, 12 in all

Updated Apr. 22, 2022 7:56 p.m. ET

Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — There are two very different schools of thought surrounding the Kansas City Chiefs as they head into the NFL draft, where aggressive general manager Brett Veach has two picks apiece in each of the first four rounds and 12 in all.

The first involves working the phones next Thursday night to move up in the first round, perhaps packaging picks to climb the board and select a player they really want. If that's the case, it's likely to be one of the top wide receivers in the hopes that he can help replace Tyreek Hill, the three-time All-Pro that was traded to the Dolphins this offseason.

The other thought process takes into consideration the whopping long-term contracts that Kansas City has doled out to quarterback Patrick Mahomes, defensive tackle Chris Jones and several others. In that case, they would use all their draft capital to select a bunch of players that will be on inexpensive rookie contracts for the next several years.

“I think it's all opportunity dependent,” Veach said. “I think we've shown over the years that if there's a player or talent that we really like, and we think that there's no alternative to match, we'll look to (trade up).”

Veach won't tip his hand, of course. But he has more picks than at any point since he replaced John Dorsey in 2017, shortly after Veach pounded the table to convince his predecessor to trade up and pick Mahomes with the 10th overall choice.

That means Veach has more latitude to do just about anything he wants over the course of the three-day draft.

“For sure, it’s certainly market-directed in what’s available and what’s realistic,” said Veach, who has had six picks apiece in every draft since taking over as GM. “It's just case by case. You just kind of go through the exercise and just make the best decision for the organization.”

Last year, that involved trading a package of picks — including the Chiefs' first-round selection — to the Ravens for left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., who played well last season and has since been given the franchise tag by Kansas City.

This year, it involved sending Hill to Miami for five draft picks, including first-, second- and fourth-rounders this year.

Former NFL GM Mark Dominik is in the camp that thinks the Chiefs will stand pat on Thursday night, getting the best wide receiver available at No. 29 and addressing one of their other needs — perhaps edge rusher or defensive back — with the No. 30 selection. Or, Dominik thinks the Chiefs could trade down and acquire even more draft capital.

“I don't think you have to go get a receiver unless you feel like this is one of those times where there's only one guy you like. But I think there's so many good ones that you're going to be very comfortable to just kind of play it out and take your two picks,” Dominik said. “I think they're going to be more like letting it come to them.”

THE WR CLASS

If the Chiefs want the closest player-for-player replacement for Hill, it could mean trading up to pick Alabama's Jameson Williams, who is 10 weeks removed from an ACL injury. But there should be plenty of others available late in the first round: Treylon Burks of Arkansas, Skyy Moore of Western Michigan and Jahan Dotson of Penn State.

Kansas City has not picked a wide receiver in the first round since 2011, when Jonathan Baldwin turned out to be a bust.

WHAT ABOUT DB

The Chiefs lost Charvarius Ward in free agency and could use someone with enough versatility to cover the slot. That is why they have been linked to Florida's Kaiir Elam and Michigan's Daxton Hill, a safety who plays like a cornerback.

RUSH HOUR

The Chiefs managed just 31 sacks last season, better than three other teams, and that's a big reason why they felt compelled to keep defensive end Frank Clark despite his huge salary cap hit. With a deep draft of edge rushers, look for Kansas City to upgrade at that position. Possible targets include Penn State's Arnold Ebiketie and Boye Mafe of Minnesota.

PLUG SOME HOLES

Jones is the only defensive tackle signed through the 2023 season, so the Chiefs are likely to target the position in the second round or later. They are suddenly in a division featuring Russell Wilson in Denver along with Derek Carr in Las Vegas and Justin Herbert in Los Angeles, so getting pressure on the quarterback up the middle is becoming crucial.

WAIT AND SEE

The Chiefs have hosted the past four AFC title games, so it's not as if they have an abundance of holes to fill. And with 12 picks, they have the ability to invest in someone that may not help them right away. So keep an eye on Michigan pass rusher David Ojabo, who tore his Achilles tendon during his pro day last month. Ojabo was viewed as a top-20 talent, but the fact that he could miss the entire upcoming season could make Kansas City a soft landing spot for him.

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