Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach walked into his pre-draft news conference Thursday with something close to a promise. He opened up about what draft night, set for next Thursday in Green Bay might look like.

“It should be an entertaining night. There’ll probably be a lot of trades.”

Among the prospects Veach cited as examples: Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. All three are projected high but don’t play marquee positions.

Only one quarterback, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, is projected inside the top 10.

“It should be an entertaining night. There’ll probably be a lot of trades. I think that the fans will be in for a treat next Thursday because I think the grades on prospects are going to be so close from some of these [offensive] tackles and D-ends and receivers,” Veach told reporters. “A lot of these guys that are mocked high may go a little lower and a lot of these guys that are getting mocked a little lower may go higher because I think they’re so close this year. There’s not this huge gap and huge fall off.

“That’s what a draft like this, when you don’t have two or three high-graded quarterbacks and a Will Anderson Jr. or a Myles Garrett, does: It lends itself to open up to a lot of fun and a lot of excitement,” he said.

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Kansas City holds the 9th and 29th picks. The 29th pick came from last month’s deal that sent All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams, making K.C. one of just five clubs with two first-round picks.

According to a source, Kansas City has averaged 5.8 picks moved per draft in recent years, among the league’s highest rates.

Veach, when pressed on his method:

“I don’t know if I have a blueprint for that,” he said. “It’s just exhausting all the information with each player, identifying your team’s needs, working with the coaching staff. You’re going to have 10-15 guys that you really want to get. It’s just trying to work the board.”

Coming off a 6-11 season, Kansas City needs this draft to matter. Veach has the picks and clearly the appetite. 

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