The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs have glaring needs at wide receiver, cornerback, and offensive tackle, but, if we have learned anything about general manager Brett Veach is that this isn’t a franchise that will reach for need during the NFL Draft.

Brett Veach, general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
Sure, the Chiefs could aggressively trade up to take one of the premier wide receivers in this year’s class, or jockey for position to land one of the top offensive tackles, but history has shown that Veach and Kansas City are far more likely to trust their board and draft for need.

However, according to a report from ESPN, the Chiefs aren’t ruling anything out.

Kansas City Chiefs Draft Strategy Revealed

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid (Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports)
Given that Chiefs wide receivers led the league in drops last season, and Rashee Rice could potentially be limited this season, after turning himself in following his alleged involvement in a major Dallas, Texas crash, conventional wisdom might suggest Kansas City would move mountains to take a top receiver early in the NFL Draft.

Not so fast.

“Everything is on the table.” That’s what a Chiefs source told ESPN’s Matt Miller.

Signing Marquise “Hollywood” Brown in free agency elevates the Chiefs’ receiving corps, but it’s difficult to imagine Kansas City not prioritizing adding more weapons to Mahomes‘ supporting cast.

Likewise, Donovan Smith is an unrestricted free agent, and keeping Mahomes upright is critical to the Chiefs’ becoming the first three-peat champions. But, Kansas City’s track record in the draft suggests Veach and Co. will be content to simply take the best remaining player on their board.

“The Chiefs’ offseason thus far has focused on re-signing key players,” Miller writes. “Such as Chris Jones and Drue Tranquill, but the feeling in the front office is that the team won’t be forced into picking a certain position based on need.

“I was reminded by the same Chiefs source that there was “leaguewide panic” last year that Kansas City needed to draft a receiver in Round 1, but the team waited until Round 2 before selecting Rashee Rice — and won the Super Bowl. So while receiver, left tackle and cornerback are needs on paper, don’t expect this front office to reach based on holes in the roster.”

Having a roster with so much star power and elite talent sprinkled across both sides of the ball make it less likely that the Chiefs would reach for need, especially early in the draft.
Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid with quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) against the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports