The NFL offseason is in full swing as the annual Scouting Combine is well underway in Indianapolis, and as part of the event, General Manager Brett Veach fielded questions on Tuesday as Kansas City continues its preparation for the upcoming NFL Draft.
Here are some quick notes that stood out from his media availability.
1. Veach discussed the intensity of having the No. 9 overall pick in this year's draft.
Kansas City is set to make its highest first-round selection in more than a decade, and only its second top-10 pick since 2014. Additionally, the Chiefs will be picking early in every round, providing Kansas City with a chance at certain players that simply wouldn't have been available on Day 2 and Day 3 in past years.
It all presents a major opportunity for the Chiefs to set themselves up for the future, and it's a responsibility that Veach isn't taking lightly.
"We're excited – we don't want to be picking [at] nine every year, but we're excited to add some young talent to this roster," Veach said. "I think [what's also exciting is] those second and third rounds. [In] years past, Day 1 would end and we would come in there and there would be five or six players [we liked], but you knew at No. 32 in round two, you wouldn't get them either. It's not just the first round – I think we have an opportunity to really capitalize here and add a lot of talent throughout the course of the draft weekend."
2. As the Chiefs prepare to bounce back from a disappointing season in 2025, Veach was asked to share an area that Kansas City will look to address in the coming months.
There are a handful of areas in which the Chiefs will need to improve this offseason, but when asked to pinpoint one of his priorities moving forward, Veach emphasized the need to cultivate an explosive running game in 2026.
"Certainly, we want to get more explosive in the running game," Veach said. "The running game takes a lot of pressure off of everybody, so I think if we can be more explosive and more effective in the running game. [That would] take a lot of pressure off [quarterback] Pat [Mahomes], especially coming back early in the season with an injury."
Specifically, Veach went on to discuss the importance of seizing one of Kansas City's strengths – its interior offensive line – and utilizing that talent as part of its rushing attack.
"We've invested in that interior with [guard] Trey Smith and [center] Creed Humphrey, two of the best in the league, and we thought [guard] Kingsley [Suamataia] took a big step [last year]," Veach said. "Those are three talented interior players. We've talked about it, and [Head] Coach [Andy Reid] has done an amazing job with his staff cranking on that scheme eval, but I think being more explosive in the running game and really taking advantage of those interior three to impose your will on an opposing team's defense [is important]."
3. While the on-field drills are often in the spotlight, Veach spoke about the importance of the player interviews that take place over the course of the week.
The on-field drills – notably the 40-yard dash – garner the majority of the attention at the Combine, but in reality, it's the in-person interviews that often provide the most value for each of the teams in attendance. The interviews, which are limited to 20 minutes, allow the Chiefs' decision-makers to learn a little about what makes each of these prospects tick, and on top of that, they can get an idea of each prospect's football acumen.
"I don't think anything's determined here, [but] I think it's part of the process," Veach said. "We had a couple of guys yesterday, with just the football knowledge stuff that we weren't sure on, [but] they nailed it and we were really impressed…[It's] just seeing the whole puzzle piece come together. Like I said, I don't think we take a bunch of names off [because of this week], but it's just a pathway to keep digging and get as much information as possible."
4. In the context of possessing the No. 9 overall pick, Veach discussed the significance of positional value when evaluating potential options in the first round.
The draft is as much about weighing positional value as it is about ranking talent, creating a delicate balancing act that Veach and his staff will have to navigate with the No. 9 overall pick and beyond.
Veach discussed that process on Tuesday.
"You're always going to [look at] o-line [and] d-line – those positional values are there [and] you see [those values] in free agency," Veach said. "At the same time, arguably some of the best players in this draft are maybe at non-premium positions…Those are really, really good players, [and] it's hard to find faults with their tape…You just have to go through and weigh out all the options. At the end of the day, I think when a guy is going to come in here and be a great contributor on the field [and] off the field, stick to that old mantra and take the best player available."
5. In a general sense, Veach described the collective excitement amongst the Chiefs' decision-makers as Kansas City aims to get back on track in 2026.
The 2025 season didn't go the way Kansas City anticipated, but the current reality – with three picks in the top 75 selections – represents a great chance to avoid a similar result next season.
That opportunity – and the excitement that goes along with it – was a frequent component of Veach's remarks on Tuesday.
"We know we have to execute an efficient game plan in free agency, and then we have to nail these picks. That'll be important for us to keep this run going," Veach said. "Obviously, we had a step back this last year, and everyone was disappointed, but everyone's motivated – even the coaching staff, too…Right after that Vegas game, those guys were all in and it was exciting and energetic in a way. The last few years, we were in a maintenance stage, and now we're trying to rebuild this thing again. I think for a GM and a personnel staff, that's exciting."
