Sometimes it can be hard to calculate how well an NFL general manager does in the draft. Unless they\u2019re fortunate enough to quickly build a competitive roster, their tenures are often too short to create a sample size big enough for a fair evaluation.<\/p>\n
Fortunately for the Kansas City Chiefs<\/a>, that hasn\u2019t been a problem with general manager Brett Veach, who has been running the league\u2019s most successful franchise since he took over in the summer of 2017. With eight cycles to his credit, Veach has assembled one of the league\u2019s best draft records. His rookie picks have played a significant role in two separate roster builds that have resulted in league championships.<\/p>\n Here are the 10 best picks he\u2019s made in Kansas City.<\/p>\n 1. Cornerback Trent McDuffie<\/p>\n Pick 21, first round of 2022<\/p>\n You can argue that Trey Smith and Creed Humphrey were better values, but I\u2019d still take McDuffie over them.<\/p>\n Whether in the slot or outside, McDuffie is one of the league\u2019s best corners. He\u2019s done everything at an All-Pro level, making him a true shutdown cornerback against any player in the league. The Denver Broncos<\/a>\u2019 Patrick Surtain II is the only other NFL player who can make that claim. <\/p>\n McDuffie\u2019s rare skillset puts him at No. 1.<\/p>\n 2. Center Creed Humphrey<\/p>\n Pick 63, second round of 2021<\/p>\n Still, taking the NFL\u2019s best center in the second round could push Humphrey to No. 1. Since he was a sixth-round pick, I wouldn\u2019t quibble with Trey Smith at No. 2, either. I just think Humphrey is a higher-caliber player. <\/p>\n After the Super Bowl<\/a> LV loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a>, Kansas City had to overhaul its entire offensive line. Immediately identifying Humphrey as the man to hold the middle of the revamped line put a big feather in Veach\u2019s cap. Humphrey will be the center for the majority of quarterback Patrick Mahomes\u2019 prime years.<\/p>\n 3. Guard Trey Smith<\/p>\n Pick 226, sixth round of 2021<\/p>\n Smith is certainly the best value on this list. His force and strength diversified the Chiefs\u2019 running game, changing the team\u2019s entire offense. While he\u2019s capable on zone runs, few players are better maulers down the middle.<\/p>\n Smith has had some inconsistencies in pass protection, but given his skills as a run blocker, he\u2019s easily passed the bar the Chiefs set for him. He\u2019s still improving, too. Through most of 2024, he was a lockdown pass protector. If that trend continues, he could rise even higher on this list.<\/p>\n 4. Cornerback L\u2019Jarius Sneed<\/p>\n Pick 138, fourth round of 2020<\/p>\n While he isn\u2019t going to have a career as long as some of these other players, Sneed\u2019s 2023 season \u2014 in which he was able to play at an All-Pro level \u2014 was above what any of them will put forth. You can make a credible argument that he was the second-best player on the 2023 Super Bowl team, shutting down a variety of receivers on a weekly basis.<\/p>\n While Sneed was good in all four of his Kansas City seasons, 2023 was special.<\/p>\n 5. Linebacker Nick Bolton<\/p>\n Pick 58, second round of 2021<\/p>\n You could put George Karlaftis here and I\u2019d be fine with it \u2014 but I choose Bolton because generally, his impact on the defense is higher. He\u2019s always been a great tackler, but he\u2019s made underrated improvements in taking on blocks and playing in coverage. While Bolton will never be elite in coverage, he\u2019s improved enough that he\u2019s no longer a big liability. Taking away some of these negative plays has made him a more well-rounded (and effective) player.<\/p>\n 6. Defensive End George Karlaftis<\/p>\n Pick 30, first round of 2022<\/p>\n The former Purdue defensive end will never be a superstar. But if he plays in Kansas City for 10 years, he could pass Justin Houston (78.5) for fifth place among the team\u2019s all-time sack leaders. Karlaftis is as steady as they come \u2014 a B+ in every aspect of his game. As a complimentary player who rounds out the defense, he\u2019s been fantastic for the Chiefs.<\/p>\n 7. Wide Receiver Rashee Rice<\/p>\n Pick 55, second round of 2023<\/p>\n If we were projecting a bit more, I might push Rice a little higher \u2014 but we need more sample size to really evaluate him. Just the same, his explosiveness after the catch is rare \u2014 and he appeared to be on the verge of a huge breakout before last season\u2019s injury. If he can rebound from that, he\u2019ll be in the top 4 pretty quickly.<\/p>\n 8. Linebacker Leo Chenal<\/p>\n Pick 103, third round of 2022<\/p>\n My first seven picks have been pretty typical. But from here on, you could make some other arguments. While Chenal might have a smaller role than some other players you could place here, his down-to-down impact is higher; the Chiefs continue to find more ways to leverage his insane strength and blitzing potential. He may never be a three-down player \u2014 but in his specific role, he\u2019s elite. He is a dangerous weapon in huge games.<\/p>\n 9. Cornerback Jaylen Watson<\/p>\n Pick 243, seventh round of 2022<\/p>\n I could easily flip these last two picks. I have Watson here simply because I think his best has been better than Isiah Pacheco\u2019s; he\u2019s been a steady starting corner who\u2019s never had a long slump of bad play. For a non-elite cornerback, that\u2019s a tough ask \u2014 but year-after-year, Watson has consistently delivered strong performances.<\/p>\n 10. Running back Isiah Pacheco<\/p>\n Pick 251, seventh round of 2022<\/p>\n While some things frustrate me about Pacheco, there\u2019s no doubt he\u2019s been an excellent pick. He\u2019s been the starting running back on two Super Bowl teams and always brings it in big games. His toughness and physicality flow through the entire offense. Pacheco is a tone-setter \u2014 a rare trait for a running back who isn\u2019t a star.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sometimes it can be hard to calculate how well an NFL general manager does in the draft. 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