When you’re the keeper of 12 picks in the NFL draft (like the Kansas City Chiefs were when the first round opened Thursday night), it’s almost impossible to visualize and play out every angle. Led by general manager Brett Veach, the Chiefs attempted just that.
As it turned out, they failed. And that was a very good thing.
“It’s funny on our first pick because every year we go through what we think [is] every conceivable scenario, and we didn’t go through McDuffie’s scenario,” laughed Veach during his post-Round 1 press conference.
The “McDuffie scenario,” as the general manager described it, was Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie falling into his 20s — and, to be precise, picking the number 21. Before the draft began, Veach had revealed that Kansas City’s human resources department had identified 18 first-round players as true. McDuffie was one of them.
Believing a player of his caliber would not be available at Pick 29, Veach called the New England Patriots, who were willing to trade 21 for 29, one of the Chiefs’ two third-round players and one of their fourth-round players. Veach designed his man.
“When you make a move, you’re doing it for a guy you’ve got with you [first-round] area, so we could do that,” Veach said. “I think the fact that we were aggressive to a degree shows [and] kinda told you what you thought of McDuffie. We definitely thought he was one of those players and that’s why we made the move.”
Veach called the 21-year-old to break the good news. It was more than just the player waiting to hear it.
“My family is huge,” McDuffie said, speaking to local Kansas City media via Zoom media after Round 1. “I feel like we’re the closest family ever, so during the draft I wanted to make sure that my aunts, my uncles, my grandparents – everyone was there, everyone who’s supported me throughout my football career could enjoy this moment with me When I got the call, I saw the Kansas City Chiefs and I was like, ‘Wait a minute. Let me off.’ Conversations with Coach Reid, conversations with Spagnuolo, conversations with the Hunt family, and suddenly my family starts screaming. And I say, ‘Wait. What am I missing here? What’s up?’ I ran in and of course my name popped up on the screen and everyone started screaming.
“I was like, ‘Give me a second, Coach. This may take a minute or two. If I get a chance to speak to all of you, I’ll let you know.” Honestly, it was just such an exciting moment — just being able to spend that time with my family, so it was great to be a part of it be.”
Veach confirmed the Chiefs have never had McDuffie visit Kansas City simply because some prospects don’t need to. McDuffie said the Chiefs invited him to the Scouting Combine for an informal interview, but that was about it.
This team didn’t see a chance he would be anywhere near pick number 29…or even close to 29.
“I think we committed to being selectively aggressive, and when there was a player like Trent McDuffie there, ‘Hey, let’s make a move and get him because he’s really good,'” Veach said. “He probably wouldn’t have been there when he was 29. We were surprised he was there when we picked him with New England’s pick, but I think that was our take and we just went with the plan.”
The Buffalo Bills should pick No. 25, and Veach felt the Chiefs had to get there first if they wanted to secure McDuffie.
“[Derek] Stingley and Gravy [Gardner] went up, and we had a grouping of curves there,” Veach began. I just know some of the team needs that were right in front of us and I think Buffalo took a corner not long after that and I think he traded a spot as well.
The Bills were originally numbered 25 but switched to 23 to take on Florida’s Kaiir Elam.
“We knew this was coming,” Veach explained. “We had called teams – I think the selection before and the selection after – of the New England trade just to put us in the position. The way the board fell and knowing that we’re picking very late here in this draft and the odds of a guy like McDuffie being at 21 let alone 29 were very slim, so we just thought, it is the right time to take this step.”
Modeling his game after a well-known name
McDuffie comes in at 5ft 11 and 193lbs, which some would say is average or a little short for a first-round cornerback. But given that aspect, head coach Andy Reid didn’t seem too concerned.
“He has enough size and he’s played against big receivers and done a good job,” Reid said. “We thought his size was right there.”
As a three-year starter in Washington, McDuffie compiled 94 tackles (71 solo) while defending eight passes, including two interceptions. McDuffie, who describes himself as a defenseman and not just a cornerback, came up with a name during his first media interview that would sound awfully familiar to most Chiefs fans.
“I see myself almost as a bully Mathieu type,” he said of the 5-foot-9-All-Pro, “someone who’s going to be able to go in and just play a few different positions and just help the team as I can. That’s a big deal for me as I progress. I just go out there with the attitude, “Anyway I can get on the field — however I can help this team.” I’m going to do whatever I can to do that, so I know that this organization has a great defensive mindset so frankly very excited to be a part of this team.
McDuffie had modeled his football career on the former Chiefs since the days he watched him play college.
“Growing up, shooting, watching bully Mathieu at LSU — he was one of those guys he wasn’t the greatest at,” McDuffie continued. “[Mathieu] wasn’t the fastest, but he would always make a game. And that’s something I always try to do in my game – just be the person that’s flashing on the screen. You know? Just be the guy who is always in soccer because I am a soccer player and I want to create the best opportunities for my team. So just watching Tyrant Mathieu and seeing how he became a leader, how he trains, how he plays games – just the tenacity and heart he gave is something I can look at and try to improve my game after model.
The Mathieu-like aspect of his playing must have carried over into the film.
“Trent’s a guy who can come in here on day one,” Veach said. “He’s wired right, has extreme knowledge of the game, has been a player for three years, a starter for three years and it was certainly a position we wanted to address.”
McDuffie is joining a cornerback room that lost Charvarius Ward to the San Francisco 49ers this offseason — so it definitely needs more depth. With the second-best corners after L’Jarius Sneed being Rashad Fenton and Deandre Baker, a rookie starting Day 1 as an outside corner sounds like that could be the Chiefs’ expectation.
Given the lack of prior communication with the Chiefs, it all came as a bit of a surprise to McDuffie. Still, the call went down well.
“When I got that call, it was like, ‘Whoa! Kansas City? That’s cool.'”
One of the voices on the other line was defense coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
“He just said to me, of course, ‘Congratulations. to be lucky [you].’” recalls McDuffie. “We didn’t talk much because – of course – the night went crazy. But I’m looking forward to meeting him [Friday]. I look forward to sitting down and learning this defense and learning how to help the team. And I mean move forward, shoot. I’m ready to go tomorrow… I’m just ready to play football at this point.
“The draft is finally done, I finally have the team, so I’m ready to just jump out, join the team and start building those bonds.”