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.”
