For his initial selection in the 2019 NFL draft, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has received a lot of flak over the years.
After trading their first-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for DE Frank Clark, the Chiefs were left without one for the 2019 NFL Draft. In the ensuing round, K.C. made the decision to trade up. The Chiefs advanced alongside the Los Angeles Rams to select Georgia wide receiver Mecole Hardman because Tyreek Hill’s off-field circumstances were unclear. In exchange for No. 56, they sent the Rams two selections, Nos. 61 and 167.
At pick No. 64, the Seahawks grabbed Ole Miss wide receiver DK Metcalf, eight choices later. Even yet, K.C. passed on Metcalf again, choosing Juan Thornhill at pick No. 63. As of right now, Hardman has far less receptions (372), yards (5,332), and touchdowns (43) than Metcalf has during his career.
To argue that the Chiefs should have selected Metcalf over Hardman is the ultimate in hindsight bias. On FOX Sports’ “Harvick’s Happy Hour” podcast, Kevin Harvick asked Veach about his biggest draft misstep, and he couldn’t help but name Metcalf as the player he regretted losing out on the most.
“I think there were some injury concerns, and DK Metcalf might be a guy that stands out just because of the limited pass tree,” Veach informed Harvick. “And sometimes, especially with severe injuries, I believe you learn through the experience. We have an excellent training staff, led by our trainer Rick Burkholder, with whom I have a longstanding relationship. But when I was a scout instead of GM, we had a different connection and I was only learning the lingo. However, I believe that occasionally obtaining information about an individual’s injury condition and chances of being hired is important.”
According to most accounts, Metcalf was taken off the Chiefs’ selection board due to a neck injury. Veach’s remarks essentially verified that to be true.
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