Chiefs GM Brett Veach expresses regret over 'bypassing' DK Metcalf during 2019 NFL Draft: Report

The Kansas City Chiefs essentially had two chances at selecting future Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf in 2019.

They made picks at 56 and 63, and Metcalf was selected by the Seattle Seahawks at 64. To exacerbate matters, the Chiefs selected a wide receiver in that range, effectively marking him as a better prospect than Metcalf.

That player ended up being Mecole Hardman, who caught the championship-winning catch in 2024. Nevertheless, GM Brett Veach recently said via Fansided that he regrets not taking Metcalf:

"Looking back on D.K., there were areas we weren't sure on, but there were none that should have prompted us to bypass him."

He mentioned that at the time they believed he had a limited route tree and some injury concerns. Veach hasn't nailed every single pick in the draft for the Chiefs, but that's one he admits fault on:

"I think that’s one player that sticks out. I’m sure there’s a ton other. And I think every team is probably the same way.

"I’m sure there’s a lot of teams that were too low on Pat Mahomes and saying that quarterbacks from the Texas Tech Air Raid style of offense don’t work out."

Things worked out well for the Chiefs anyway as this era of the team has three Super Bowls, including two in a row.

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The Kansas City Chiefs missed on DK Metcalf

DK Metcalf could have been a Chief

Mecole Hardman has been a fine player for the Kansas City Chiefs, so while the Juan Thornhill pick was worse, picking Hardman in the second round hasn't aged as terribly as it could have. Still, there's no argument for Hardman being a better wide receiver than DK Metcalf.

Had they selected him, it's impossible to imagine the heights that Patrick Mahomes could have gone to. Giving him Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and Metcalf would have been unfair.

Now, with very few top wide receivers on the roster after trading Hill a couple of seasons ago, the team would have a strength at what is currently a question mark. That doesn't even imagine how many Super Bowls they might have had if Mahomes was throwing to those two aforementioned players and the star Seattle Seahawks player.