Chiefs GM Brett Veach Continues Aggressive Ways In First Round Of NFL Draft

BusinessSportsMoneyChiefs GM Brett Veach Continues Aggressive Ways In First Round Of NFL DraftByJeff Fedotin,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Jeff Fedotin covers the Kansas City Chiefs and sports business.Follow AuthorApr 23, 2026, 09:58pm EDTApr 23, 2026, 10:19pm EDTMansoor Delane poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected sixth overall pick by the Kansas City Chiefs during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)Getty ImagesExactly one week before the draft, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach may have teased his ultimate plan for the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.“It should be an entertaining night,” he said. “And there will probably be a lot of trades.”Indeed Veach made the first overall trade on the first night of the draft, trading the Chiefs’ ninth overall pick, a third rounder (74th overall ) and fifth rounder (108th overall) for the Cleveland Browns’ sixth overall pick so that the Chiefs could select cornerback Mansoor Delane.It continues Veach’s aggressive ways — particularly in the first round of the NFL drafts. The Chiefs have made a trade to move around in the first round of the NFL draft in three of the last four years.Last year they swapped spots with the Philadelphia Eagles and still landed the player they coveted — offensive tackle Josh Simmons.In 2024 and 2022 they traded up in the first round to select wide receiver Xavier Worthy and cornerback Trent McDuffie, respectively.Veach’s latest draft trade will help the void left by McDuffie.MORE FOR YOUThe Los Angeles Rams traded for McDuffie and then made him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, signing him to a four-year, $124 million extension that includes $100 million guaranteed. Shortly thereafter, they also signed cornerback Jaylen Watson to three-year, $51 million deal with $34 million guaranteed.Last year’s No. 6 overall pick, Ashton Jeanty, signed a four-year, $36 million con...