The Kansas City Chiefs finished 31st in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, making them the last team to pick. The Super Bowl champ had previously wanted to trade up, but ultimately flashed off at the Dallas Cowboys.
Radio host and Cowboys insider Kyle Younmans revealed on his “Draft Show” that Chiefs general manager Brett Veach was in talks with Dallas about a trade. Kansas City was trying to get in a better position to pick defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
However, the Cowboys, who held the 26th pick in the first round, turned down a trade. In retrospect, an understandable decision as the Texans took Mazi Smith off the board. The 21-year-old came into focus with the NFL Combine at the latest, when he outshined the competition with his strength and athleticism.
The Chiefs had to reorient themselves again and finally chose Felix Anudike-Uzomah. The defensive end was voted onto the all-conference team last year, so it’s more than a consolation prize.
Kansas City concedes pre-NFL draft talks
Since the Chiefs, as the reigning SB winners, were the last organization allowed to pick in the first round of the draft, rumors of a trade have been increasing in recent weeks. Following the signing of Anudike-Uzomah, Brett Veach answered reporters’ questions and confirmed previous reports.
“Yes, we had talks,” admitted the general manager at the press conference. “It (were) talks we had with the teams but when it came time to make a decision they stuck to their positions.”
Veach did not want to explicitly name the Cowboys as a negotiating partner, but narrowed down the circle of NFL organizations somewhat. “The teams from (Jacksonville and Buffalo) were not involved in the trade.”
