Chiefs are widely praised for 2022 draft class that helped team return to Super Bowl

It’s been 11 months since the Chiefs’ stock seemed to drop to its lowest point in years in the minds of a number of people.

In March, the Chiefs traded All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill and found a replacement for safety Tyrann Mathieu. That same month, the Broncos acquired quarterback Russell Wilson, pass rusher Khalil Mack joined the Chargers and the Raiders traded for receiver Davante Adams.

To many, it seemed like the Chiefs would have serious trouble winning the AFC West. And with the Bills and Bengals making upgrades, a return to the Super Bowl seemed unlikely.

And yet here we are, days away from watching the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. There’s little question that quarterback Patrick Mahomes (who likely will win the MVP award Thursday), coach Andy Reid and others are a big reason for the Chiefs’ success this season.

But General manager Brett Veach also has been praised recently for an excellent draft that included cornerback Trent McDuffie, running back Isiah Pacheco and defensive end George Karlaftis.

Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman wrote a story with the headline: “The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2022 draft class sets them up for the Super Bowl and beyond.”

Here is an excerpt from that story: “Picking players in the NFL draft is supposed to be more difficult for perennial playoff teams, yet Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has mastered the art of picking late in the draft.

“His draft class from 2022 has been his finest so far as the GM and is a huge reason why the Chiefs are in a position to win their second Lombardi Trophy in four years.”

Sumer Sports noted that Chiefs rookies played more games than any other team and had one of the biggest impacts this season.

Speaking this week on “Good Morning Football,” Peter Schrager broke down how the Chiefs rebuilt the roster and kept on winning.

“Nearly half of this roster has changed,” Schrager said. “No Tyreek Hill, 10 rookies playing a role. And yet the Chiefs are right back where they always are there in the Super Bowl. They’re rebuilding on the fly, and you wouldn’t even notice it if you weren’t following them closely. That is how Kansas City is building their team and that is how they are trying to build a champion.”

Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wetzel wrote a column with the headline: “Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs wouldn’t be in another Super Bowl without an incredible success rate in the NFL Draft.”

This is a snippet from the column: “Kansas City has made 22 selections across the past three NFL Drafts. Due to its success during that period, the Chiefs never had a selection above 21st overall (2022). They had no first-rounder in 2021 and picked 32nd in 2020.

“Yet general manager Brett Veach and his staff have been on a heater. As much as Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones and head coach Andy Reid are getting deserved praise, this was truly an organizational trip to the Super Bowl.

“Seventeen of those 22 selections played in the AFC title game, including 10 of whom played at least half the snaps. And they came from all over the draft, from first to the late rounds. There was even undrafted free-agent rookie Jake Cochrane, who got in on 18 special teams snaps.”