Drama is an adequate word to describe the previous off-season within the Kansas City Chiefs organization. Between the release of veteran wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, and the popular move of drafting Patrick Mahomes II, lies a stratagem made that may be the most dramatic move this off-season. Owner Clark Hunt made a shocking decision in terminating contract extension talks with former general manager John Dorsey, and soon after named Brett Veach as the new general manager of the franchise. Ever since Brett Veach was named general manager, he has made transitions within the team to bulk up the already profound roster in Kansas City. Ahead is each trade made by Brett Veach, and what it means to the team on many different levels.
Analyzing Trades Made by Kansas City Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach
Kevin Pierre-Louis
The first trade made by Veach included the team sending former Pro Bowl linebacker D.J. Alexander to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a young talent in Kevin Pierre-Louis. Pierre-Louis was a player out of college the team has had on their radar, and Veach was able to send Alexander to the Seahawks to own the rights of Pierre-Louis.
Losing a fan favorite in Alexander does hurt a little bit for Chiefs Kingdom, but he deserves a place where he is used in a different of a scheme. Alexander is packed full of potential, and the Seahawks may be the best place for him to expand his game outside of special teams.
For Kansas City’s sake, Pierre-Louis adds another body in the linebacker corps to help expand the thin depth on the roster. Do not expect Pierre-Louis to be a starter, but know he will help the team in some ways. It would be no surprise if Pierre-Louis delivers big on special teams, and plays a little on defense to give those ahead of him a rest.
Grade Received For This Move: C+
Reggie Ragland
A proficient inside linebacker has lingered as a need for Kansas City ever since the decline in health and stamina of veteran inside linebacker Derrick Johnson. In the previous two drafts, the Chiefs waited to draft an inside linebacker in the later rounds
The names such as Ramik Wilson, Dadi Nicolas, Ukeme Eligwe are products of later round inside linebacker draft picks by the Chiefs. Each name so far has had little or no contribution, but to the player’s defense, each of them have needed their own time to recover from injuries, or are working on adapting their game to best suit the NFL.
Veach went out shopping for an inside linebacker to help the team build young depth, and found an opportunity with the Buffalo Bills. The two franchises agreed on a trade to send former second round pick Reggie Ragland to the Chiefs, with the implications of the Chiefs trading the Bills a 2019 fourth round draft pick.
Although Ragland may not make immediate impact due to his knee injury, Ragland will eventually be a superb help in expanding the versatility within the linebacker position. Ragland, a former Alabama Crimson Tide, is the type of linebacker who plays with his head on a swivel, and always seems to be out for blood. Once Ragland is healthy, expect harmony, and a potential future Johnson replacement.
Consequences Of the Ragland Trade
The art of building the best possible roster cannot be completed without consequences following each move made to absolute a new and improved roster. Unfortunately, Josh Mauga was the odd man out as a result of the Ragland trade. The team decided to release Mauga to free room for the new Kansas City Chief. It does indeed hurt the chemistry a little bit on the defensive end, but the talents carried by Ragland will fill the gap with simplicity.
Grade Received For This Move: A-
Cameron Erving
A lengthy offensive lineman out of Florida State, Cameron (Cam) Erving was selected 19th overall in the 2015 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns. After a few experimental seasons, the Browns placed Erving on the market, which sparked Kansas City to make a move to acquire a young, and raw offensive lineman.
The details of this trade include the Chiefs receiving Erving, and sending a 2018 fifth round draft pick to Cleveland. Veach saw this as an opportunity to add youth to the lineman corps. To break this down, Veach sent a future 2018 fifth round pick, and received a first round pick caliber prospect. Hopefully it will work out, and Erving will find a better fit for his talents in Kansas City.
The reaction of adding Erving to the franchise resulted in the team releasing offensive lineman Jah Reid. Reid was a special talent for the offensive linemen, but he never truly found his role for the team. All in all, this was a smart move by Veach if the team can help fix some mechanical issues for Erving to evolve his game.
Grade Received For This Move: B-
Trading Into The Draft – Conditional Seventh Round Pick
In the first two moves listed above, in acquiring the young talents, two future draft picks were volunteered. The Chiefs do have a solid roster, and do not necessarily need draft picks to better the team, but draft picks are still vital to any organization. Before creating the 53 man roster, Veach and company strategically put players they intended on cutting, worthy enough for a chain reaction on the market to see what they can get. One of these players is defensive end David King.
King is a special talent out of Oklahoma University. King spent his first few seasons as a Seattle Seahawk, never found his role in Kansas City. King is capable of making an NFL roster and making good use of it, but it seems the Chiefs squad is not suit well for him. Veach strategically took advantage of King’s talents, and got a draft pick out of player that was going to be cut. This was a smart move, to fill the lack of future draft picks.
Grade Received For This Move: B
Trading Into The Draft – Another Conditional Draft Pick
In order to gain even more draft capital, the Chiefs traded lineman Isaiah Battle to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2018 conditional draft pick, with the draft pick yet to be disclosed. Once again, the Chiefs strategically sent a capable prospect who was unlikely to make the 53 man roster to get something out of nothing.
Grade Received For This Move: B-
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