I think it was more about-nobody else could cover worth a fuck.
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You could have a package with Speak and Jones in the Middle with Ford and Houston on the edge.
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I really like Speaks, so don't get me wrong when I say this...

I think Veach was full of shit when he talked about the reason for moving up to get him.

There were several highly touted edge rushers on the board at the time that pick was made, including:

Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
Rasheem Green, USC
Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State
Lorenzo Carter, Georgia
Kemoko Turay, Rutgers
Josh Sweat, Florida State
Arden Key, LSU

So I think this move was a lot less about the "talent pocket," because he's a fucking liar by saying it didn't exist after Speaks, and alot more about him preferring Speaks and being worried that the Chargers were going to take him. In the end, the Chargers took a much different type of edge player in Nwosu.

I'm fine with the pick. In fact, I really like the pick. I just don't like the excuses for the move up.
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I’m fine with it too. Speaks was the guy they wanted and they didn’t want to risk losing him. I trust Veach when it comes to his intel and sense when other teams are after the guy he wants.

Hell, I thought moving up to 10 was too high last year for Mahomes. Nobody knew the Saints were going to pick him at 11 until Payton came out and said it a few weeks ago. I thought the Eagles took Fletcher Cox too high as well but they nailed that pick when Veach was there. Veach is smart, lets see what happens. His track record speaks for itself


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Re: to crow—what if they really liked Speaks that much more than the rest though? I assume its a legit possibility.

Maybe Veach sees a guy who was able to produce and make some plays even despite using limited technique and feels like they can coach him into a great pass rusher. I’d hope that’s the case anyways because more often than not it looks like Speaks was just trying to overpower linemen, and he didn’t flash too many moves either.
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Exactly. This is why I think they moved up. I don't think it was because Speaks was the last of a pocket of players that Veach described.
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One thing that has made this pick particularly tough to judge is it’s really hard to find game film on the guy. There’s only a few out there on YouTube and maybe 1-2 from 2017.

Supposedly he dominated the last 6 or 7 games this year.
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6 sacks in the last 6 games
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There was alot more videos up before the draft. Hmm, they must have pulled them down for some reason.
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It's hard to find guys this big and strong that play every down. I'm sure Veach reached a little here but it's more important to get the guy you want than what you pay for him.
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Ever since the news about Chris Jones losing weight came out, I thought that the Chiefs would be looking for a specific prototype. A player big and strong enough to play both outside and inside. Versatility up front appears to be enormous going forward bc Chris Jones played edge very well last year towards the end of the season. If someone gets hurt, you now have versatility to help cover it up and also keep offenses guessing.

I also don’t think Veach was bullshitting when he said he prefers heavier power rushers to smaller speed rushers.

A lot of guys you listed are too small to be inside rushers. I really liked Rasheed Green, but he’s too weak right now whereas Speaks had a lot of grown man strength that Chris Jones has coming out.

Veach said his staff found out about Speaks in October last year. I do admit that watching this guy really does remind me of watching Tamba. I think that’s what they have in mind for this kid.
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FWIW, Payton didn’t say they would have taken Mahomes at 11. He said he’d have taken Mahomes at 11, but only if the guy they picked was gone.
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What’s the difference? That’s exactly what I thought Veach was describing, ie a personal view that the talent drop off after Speaks was significant.
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Based on where those guys ended up going, apparently they weren’t that highly touted or thought about
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That list went primarily later in the 2nd or the very early 3rd.
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