With a lot of high praises coming from NFL fans and analysts alike, was this Veach’s best draft in his career?
Hello again everyone and welcome to another week of the ArrowChop! This is the column where we look at the positives/negatives of a certain Chiefs/NFL issue and look at both sides of the aisle. Then you, the readers, will come to your conclusions after I lay out the case. So sit back, relax, and enjoy as we break down this week’s hot topic.
A few days ago, the NFL Draft officially came to a close. The Kansas City Chiefs drafted well, drafting two offensive linemen with a lot of upsides, a linebacker that explodes from the point of attack, a WR that could replace Watkins, a tight end that could be a solid TE2 behind Kelce, and a defensive end with a motherload of upside. From the looks of it, it seems like a great draft in general; moreover, some are calling it the best draft in Veach’s career.
Was this 2021 draft class the best Veach has ever drafted? Let’s break down both sides of the aisle to find out:
Disclaimer: Veach’s first draft took place in 2018; anything before 2018 is disregarded.
2021 could be the best draft by Veach
This side believes so as such:
Firstly, Veach was able to snag a first-round talent in the sixth round with the final pick for the Chiefs; the person they selected was none other than Trey Smith. Smith is a 6’5″, 330-pound guard from the University of Tennessee. He was highly projected as a first-round pick, but his draft stock fell due to blood clots in his lungs. A sad story to be sure, but that won’t stop Smith.
Trey Smith is an absolute beast on the field. His footwork is unmatched, and he has shown he can both run and pass block exemplarily well. He plugs up holes for the defenders to go through and makes holes for the runner to breakthrough. He can also cut off defenders with simplicity, which allows for more time in the pocket or more yards gained, varying on what’s happening within the play. This was a steal by Veach and company.
There is a lot to break down, but if want a deeper look, click here to see the draft prospects and their grades:
Secondly, Veach addressed a lot of needs in this draft. The Chiefs needed a WR2; Veach drafted one in the fifth round in Collen Powell from Clemson, who has a great shot to be that guy. The Chiefs still needed some depth in the offensive line; he snagged Trey Smith and drafted Creed Humphrey in the late second round. The Chiefs needed another defensive end after Kpass left the Chiefs; he went and got Joshua Kaindoh. To finish it off, the Chiefs needed another linebacker to replace the loss of Damien Wilson; he drafted Nick Bolton at 58.
2021 couldn’t be the best draft by Veach
This side believes so as such:
Firstly, Veach missed the opportunity to snag a cornerback within this draft. Many fans were not applauded with this pic, especially after not resigning cornerback Bashaud Breeland. Sneed is solid, and Ward would be great as the second cornerback, but many aren’t sold on Fenton or any of the other backups on the roster. Drafting a cornerback would entice competition, and we could see one of these corners show up in the offseason and the pre-season. Of course, Veach knows more than any of us, but it would’ve been nice to see a corner selected in this draft.
Secondly, we mustn’t forget about last year’s draft. With this new offensive line, Helaire could have a spectacular season and be the solid running back the Chiefs have needed. Sneed has already proven to be worth the fourth-round pick after last season, with him probably being the CB1 for the Chiefs. Danna is shaping up to be a decent piece on the defensive line, and we will see Niang for the first time dress in a Chiefs’ uniform after opting out of last season.
Do you believe this could be Veach’s best draft in his career? Leave a comment down below to join the discussion, and be sure to follow me on Twitter @HunterStanton8 and @ArrowheadLive. Thanks for reading, and have a fantastic day.
