The Chiefs’ Brett Veach sees possibilities for first-round draft trades

Conventional wisdom suggests that Kansas City’s opponents would naturally be hesitant to work with the league’s top team. But to an extent, Veach denies this.

“If it can benefit them, I think they are always going to pick up the call and be willing to work,” Veach told reporters during his annual pre-draft press conference on Friday. “I don’t think a team is going to diminish their ability to do something they really want to do just because it’s [a deal with] the Chiefs.”

Veach does, however, acknowledge some obstacles that come from consistently being a Super Bowl contender.

“It’s always been understood that if you’re going to deal with a team in your division, that there’s going to be a little bit more of a premium,” he admitted. “I think [with] just some of the AFC teams in general that are consistent playoff performers — I mean the [Buffalo Bills], the [Cincinnati Bengals], the [Baltimore Ravens] — it’s probably a little bit harder to deal with those teams. Even if they do pick up the phone, I think some of their asking prices are a tick higher; I think we get hit with a little bit more ‘interest.’ I think there is always a way to make a deal — but yeah, some of the teams will probably up the price a little bit.”

Just the same, when the draft begins in Detroit on Thursday night, Veach believes there could be opportunities to make a move in the first round.“I think there are 16-18 guys this year that we have as first-round grades,” he revealed. “You factor in some quarterbacks there — and some teams that will go in different directions that are contradictory to what our board has. You figure probably 16-18 names, four quarterbacks — maybe five quarterbacks — there could be a window there where we have an opportunity to get a guy.”