Chiefs GM points out one player he regrets not drafting in 2019

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One of the greats responsible for shaping Kansas City’s dynastic squad missed a good opportunity a few years ago in the Draft.

As we approach the NFL Draft, the latest mock drafts are being released and franchise representatives continue to appear in interviews and shows to share their expectations for the event. It’s a time of heated speculation, with fans eager to find out who will be the next top stars to join the league.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to enter the draft with the 32nd pick of the first round. With seven picks in total, the organisation is determined to secure talent that can strengthen their roster and maintain their dominance. All eyes are on the decisions that will be made in the coming days, while fans wait anxiously to see who will wear the Chiefs jersey next season.

Like every team, Kansas City has some good stories to tell from past drafts. Brett Veach, the general manager, carries with him memories and regrets. And there is one especific player he wishes he had selected in the past.

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Brett Veach admits he should have selected the Seahawks’ current WR

Last week, Veach was the guest on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour Podcast presented by NFL on Fox. The GM talked about not drafting DK Metcalf in 2019.

“DKM (DK Metcalf) might be a guy that stands out just because the limited pass tree, I think there was some injury concerns… You don’t take guys, and fans do the mock drafts and they go through them and they’re like, ‘Well, we should have taken this guy, like years later, we should have taken this guy or that guy,’ but at the time a player could have been off your board because he had character concerns or an injury concern.”

“Looking back on DK, there were areas we weren’t sure on. But there were none that should have prompted us to bypass him. I think that’s one player that sticks out.”

It’s worth remembering that in 2019 the Chiefs didn’t have a first-round pick because they negotiated to acquire DE Frank Clark from the Seattle Seahawks.

Already in the second round, the franchise decided to make a super-quick trade: the off-field cases that Tyreek Hill was involved in were troublesome and KC traded up with the Los Angeles Rams to draft WR Mecole Hardman from Georgia – they sent picks #61 and #167 to the Rams for #56.

The reason why KC didn’t draft Metcalf

At the time, a neck injury to Metcalf caused him to be taken off the Chiefs’ recruitment board. The general manager said he learnt things in the process that would make him make different decisions if it were today.

“And sometimes, I think you learn through the process, especially with these injuries. And I’m fortunate that we have a great training staff, and Rick Burkholder our trainer, we’ve been together for a long time. But our relationship was different when I was a scout as opposed to GM and just understanding and learning the terminology. But I think sometimes getting clarification on injury status and the likelihood of someone making the contract.”

Even though they didn’t bring in DK Metcalf, the Chiefs went on a winning run. But it’s hard not to imagine how insane it would be to have a WR like him in the squad and what a great connection he could have with Patrick Mahomes.

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