KANSAS CITY (Mo.) — They set their board in advance of the NFL draft. General manager Brett Veach was with them. Kansas City ChiefsThe usual exercises were used to help them figure out how much they are willing to sacrifice to make it possible to be more attractive to their top prospects.
The Chiefs entered the draft with the 29th, 30th, and 31st picks in the first rounds. They didn't bother to select one of their favorite cornerbacks. Trent McDuffieWashington They thought he would not be selected in time to allow them to trade to draft him.
McDuffie then fell within their range, prompting the Chiefs to scramble. They ended up sending three draft picks — No. 29, No. 29, No. 121 — To the New England PatriotsFor the right to rise to No. 21 and choose McDuffie.
McDuffie was McDuffie's first cornerback draft by the Chiefs since 2015, when Marcus Peters was No. 18. Since 2016, this is the Chiefs' first selection of a cornerback before the fourth round.
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“Trent can come in here,” says the man. [and play]Veach stated that Day 1 was his first day. “He's wired in the right way. [has] extreme knowledge of the game, a three‐year player, a three‐year starter.
“It was an issue that we wanted to address.”
In recent years, the Chiefs addressed cornerback with a selection of draft picks in low rounds and trades for developmental prospects. Veach claimed that was not the plan.
Veach stated that “it's more circumstances.” “Not having a lot of cap space each year and not picking the top 10, it is hard to just say that we're going out to get a corner.
“Anytime there's a chance to get a young corner, that's something no team would pass up. It's sometimes difficult to get a good young corner, especially when you have some cap space.
The Chiefs received good play from many cornerbacks, but they felt they couldn’t afford to fix the position any longer after losing their three-year starter. Charvarius WardYou are entitled to free agency Ward was not an obvious replacement so they spent their free-agent money elsewhere.
McDuffie was the Chiefs' cornerback. Joshua WilliamsFayetteville state in the fourth round Jaylen WatsonWashington State was the seventh. McDuffie, however, is the Chiefs felt they needed.
“I view myself almost like a human being.” Tyrann Mathieu-McDuffie described McDuffie as a type of guy who will just go in to play a bunch if different positions and help out however they can.”
He was one those guys that wasn't the biggest or fastest but was always going make a play. And that's something I always try to do in my game is just be that person who is going to flash on the screen, be that guy who is always around the football because I'm a football player and I want to create the best opportunities for my team.”
McDuffie, at 5-11, is considered taller by the Chiefs than McDuffie. Ward is 6-1. Their other starter is L'Jarius SneedAlso, he is 6-1. Williams and Watson are listed at 6-3, respectively.
Chiefs believe McDuffie has all the skills necessary to make up for that.
Chiefs scout Greg Castillo explained that “there are going to be questions about his height and his lack of long.” “But the movement and the transition, as well as the competitiveness, outweigh all that.