Here are a few subjects Brett Veach touched on at the NFL Scouting Combine
Veach discussed Travis Kelce, Trent McDuffie, among other subjects
INDIANAPOLIS – Chiefs general manager Brett Veach on Tuesday held his annual offseason media session at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Veach touched on multiple subjects in a little more than 15 minutes, of course, as the team enters the evaluation process of the top draft prospects ahead of the NFL draft.
Outside of the draft, there are other matters Veach has to remain mindful of, which includes the start of free agency and whether the team can keep the likes of cornerback Jaylen Watson, safety Bryan Cook and linebacker Leo Chenal, among others.
“Everything’s a puzzle,” Veach said. “I think – with a lot of our players, I don’t think that there’s any one of our free agents that we look, and we say, ‘We don’t want these guys back.’ They’re really good players and won a lot of games with them.
“It’s just a matter of trying to put the puzzle together and what else is going to be out there, their price points and fitting the whole thing together.”
Here are other areas that Veach discussed:
KELCE UPDATE
Will he return or won’t he return?
Those are the two major questions surrounding tight end Travis Kelce, who turns 37 in October.
Veach echoed coach Andy Reid’s earlier comments last week on an existing open line of communication with Kelce.
And the Chiefs are prepared for whichever direction Kelce leans.
“I think we’ve kind of taken a different approach with Travis in the sense that we’ve prepared for either scenario,” Veach said. “Coach (Reid) had mentioned on Friday he’s had great dialogue with Travis. On our end, myself, (assistant general manager) Chris Shea and Travis’ crew, we’ve had some good dialogue there.”
The discussions are sure to pick up in the coming days.
Virtually all the major decision makers, which includes Kelce’s agent, are in town for the NFL Scouting Combine and the Chiefs
“I’m sure we’re going to see him (Kelce’s agent) here, just like we will all the other players’ agents and we’ll continue that dialogue,” Veach said. “Travis is the best, he’s an icon and hopefully he comes back and we’ll just let that process play out.”
Kelce finished the 2025 season with 76 catches for 851 yards and five touchdowns on 108 targets.
NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE ON MCDUFFIE
The status quo remains with cornerback Trent McDuffie.
The Chiefs had discussion with McDuffie’s agent last offseason and the summer, but a long-term deal wasn’t in place before the start of the season.
The Chiefs, however, gave themselves time by exercising a fifth-year option on McDuffie, and the discussion will continue with hopes of working out a deal to keep McDuffie beyond 2026.
“We’ve had a lot of dialogue with Trent last spring and last summer,” Veach said. “He’s first out of the gate tomorrow, so looking forward to get with him.
“Obviously, Trent’s a great player and see what we can do there, but we’d certainly love to have Trent back for the long term.”
GET EXPLOSIVE
The Chiefs’ biggest weakness in 2025 surrounded a virtually ineffective ground game, which was anchored by Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. Both running backs are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents at the start of the NFL’s new calendar year.
Reid touched on the need to get more out of the run game during his end-of-season recap.
Tuesday was Veach’s turn after being asked how the team can protect Patrick Mahomes coming off a torn ACL and LCL.
“Certainly, we want to get more explosive in the running game,” Veach said. “We’ve invested in that interior with Trey Smith and Creed Humphrey, two of the best in the league, and we thought Kingsley (Suamataia) made a big step. Those are three talented interior players.”
Smith, Humphrey and Suamataia are regarded as road grinders, excelling at dominating in the trenches to open running lanes.
Veach hopes the offense can take more advantage of the trio’s presence in 2026, especially with the starting quarterback returning from a knee injury.
“We’ve talked about it and Coach (Reid) has done an amazing job with his staff cranking on that scheme eval,” Veach said. “But I think being more explosive in the running game and really taking advantage of those interior three to impose your will on an opposing team’s defense.
“The running game takes a lot of pressure off of everybody so I think if we can be more explosive and more effective in the running game – obviously – we take a lot of pressure off Pat (Mahomes) especially coming back early in the season with an injury.”
The Chiefs’ run game finished the 2025 NFL season ranked 25th in the league.