KANSAS CITY, Mo.– A week ago, Chiefs General manager Brett Veach predicted that the first round of this year’s NFL Draft would involve a lot of trades. Veatch was right – and he was behind the first one.
in an agreement with cleveland brownsThe Chiefs moved up three spots from ninth to sixth in the selection LSU towards the corner Mansoor Delaney On Thursday night.
Kansas City sent the Nos. 9, 74 and 148 picks to Cleveland, which used the ninth selection to pick utah offensive tackle spencer fan.
“I [got] phone call and [the Chiefs] Trade was done; I was like, ‘Hey, I wanted to go to the Chiefs,'” Delaney said. ‘I wasn’t expecting this. I pick up the phone and say, ‘Wow, this is crazy.’ Then feelings came to my mind. I was very fortunate to be on a team like this.”
Three weeks ago, the Chiefs’ top trio of decision makers — Veach, coach Andy Reid and longtime defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo — believed the best prospect they could acquire for the roster was Delaney, the top-rated cornerback in this year’s draft class. However, Veach’s issue was to figure out how to proceed in the situation for him.
Earlier this month, Veach and Mark Richards, who leads the Chiefs’ data analytics team, studied various predictive models to determine whether the best option for acquiring Delaney was to move up. New Orleans SaintsWho held the eighth pick.
“Every model that we ran, looking at the stacks of players, we estimated [edge rushers David] courtyard And [Arvell] Reese will go [off the board],” Veach said Thursday night. “The prediction model said the Saints are going to be the biggest hurdle. I have been doing this for the last few years. Cleveland made it clear early on that they were interested in a trade, so we had some traction.
“I know [Saints GM] mickey [Loomis]. If there’s anyone more aggressive than me, it’s Mickey. I’ve had that experience where we keep our eyes on the same guy. Mansour Delaney was in the top five on our board. “We felt it would affect us and New Orleans.”
In 11 games last season at LSU, Delaney recorded two interceptions and 13 pass breakups while not giving up a single touchdown in coverage. He did not impose a single penalty. Delaney became the first unanimous All-American at LSU after star quarterback joe burro.
With the Chiefs, Delaney will be tasked with replacing the All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffiewhich was traded last month Los Angeles Rams For a package of draft picks that included the No. 29 selection Thursday night. jaylen watsonThe Chiefs’ second starting cornerback last season, signed with the Rams in free agency last month.
“They weren’t really putting a lot of pressure on me in the process, but they said they just wanted to keep it quiet and make a secret move,” Delaney, 22, told ESPN on the draft stage in Pittsburgh. “He made the best move in the draft. I’m excited.”
One example of the Chiefs’ caution occurred about three weeks ago. Veach wanted to host Delaney at the Chiefs training facility as one of the team’s top 30 visits. However, Spagnuolo had a better idea.
“Don’t bring him in,” Spagnuolo said he warned Veach. “Just don’t bring him in. Let’s just zoom “Him and shut up.”
The Chiefs held a final interview with Delaney on Tuesday to confirm he is still their top prospect for a trade.
Veach said, “I thought we did a good job. I think a lot of people thought we could take the offense out there, but it was our guy the whole time.”
“He’s very fluid, he’s athletic, he plays [patiently]He is very aware, and has great ball skills. He’s tough, and he’ll handle it. We think he can play inside and outside. It was the most perfect corner. When you’re getting picked at nine and you’re right there – and you can get the No. 1 corner in the draft – you just go take him.
With the 29th pick, Veach and Reed did what they did in 2022, the last time the Chiefs had two first-round selections: They added a second defender. this time it was CLEMSON defensive tackle peter woods.
“I thought it was important that we focus on defense,” Reed said. “That’s an important side of the ball, as much as I love offense. We had some voids there that we had to take care of. That’s how we felt going in.”
The Chiefs believe the 21-year-old Woods is a rising prospect, a player who has enough athleticism and strength to become a significant, rotational contributor as a rookie. Chiefs need depth behind pass rusher chris jones And Omar Norman-LottLast year’s second-round pick, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his right knee in October. Also last week, Veach acknowledged the Chiefs needed to add two players at the interior position.
With Jones turning 32 in July, Woods should find a willing mentor as the Chiefs’ best defensive player.
“It’s a privilege to be in a room with Chris Jones and to be with Andy Reid, who has done this so many times,” Woods said. “I think I have the talent, mentality and leadership skills and abilities to come in and make an immediate impact. We’re talking about a future Hall of Famer. I’m going to be a sponge as soon as I walk in the door.”
According to ESPN Research, Thursday night was the second time in franchise history the Chiefs selected multiple defenders in the opening round. In 2022, the Chiefs traded up to select McDuffie and acquired defensive end George KarlaftisThe duo helped the franchise win two consecutive Super Bowls.
Veach said he’s confident Delaney and Woods can follow a similar path.
“We expect these guys to be impact players right out of the gate,” Veach said. “That was one of the things. We want to be young and deep, but we also don’t want to redshirt guys. We’ve identified two guys that we think can come in right away and help us.”
