Constructing another division champ, Super Bowl contender: how these Chiefs were built

When the Chiefs played their first playoff game with Patrick Mahomes as their starting quarterback, Brett Veach had just completed his second season as general manager. More than half of the roster was comprised of players acquired by the three previous GMs: John Dorsey, Scott Pioli and Carl Peterson.

As the Chiefs prepare for their fifth playoff season with Mahomes as their starter, and ninth in 10 years under head coach Andy Reid, their roster is nearly entirely constructed by Veach.

Some of the biggest pieces were in place when Veach succeeded Dorsey in July 2017: Mahomes; tight end Travis Kelce; defensive tackle Chris Jones; versatile offensive lineman Andrew Wylie; kicker Harrison Butker; and long-snapper James Winchester.

Mahomes, Kelce and Jones were NFL Draft selections. Wylie, Butker and Winchester signed with the Chiefs as free agents.

The rest of the team is a Veach creation, not to mention the contract extensions and restructuring of his veteran stars.

The Chiefs entered the 2022 season with NFL’s eighth-youngest roster by average age. They went 14-3 in the regular season and earned the AFC’s top seed for the second time in three years.

Here’s how the 2022 Chiefs, the top seed in the AFC for the second time in three seasons, were built, sorted by general manager, with the year they joined the team and a comment about each player’s season:

John Dorsey

2013

TE Travis Kelce (draft, Round 3): The team’s elder statesman set career bests with 110 receptions and 12 touchdowns. He isn’t slowing down.

2015

Long-snapper James Winchester (free agent): Chiefs have appeared in 130 regular-season games and 15 playoff games since 2015, and Winchester has played in all of them.

2016

DT Chris Jones (D-2): Coming off his second 15.5-sack season, Jones is among the best at his position.

2017

QB Patrick Mahomes (D-1): On his way to a second MVP selection. Veach played a major role in the scouting that brought him here.

Brett Veach

2018

DT Derrick Nnadi (D-3): Started all 17 games this season but has logged a career-low 34% of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps

QB Chad Henne (undrafted free agent): Fourth season with the Chiefs; the 36-year old appeared in four games.

2019

S Juan Thornhill (D-2): A productive season with three interceptions, but not All-Pro, as he’s hoped in the preseason.

DT Khalen Saunders (D-3): Easily the most productive of Saunders’ four seasons. Even took two snaps on offense.

G Nick Allegretti (D-7): Security blanket offensive lineman who gets the call for an injured starter.

TE Jody Fortson (Compensatory free agent): Fast start with two TDs in four games, but regular season ended on IR for second straight year.

LB Darius Harris (CFA): Graduated from the practiced squad and logged his first 17-game season, with four starts.

DE Frank Clark (trade-Seattle): Chiefs fans hoping to see “Playoff” Frank Clark again after five-sack regular season.

2020

LB Willie Gay Jr. (D-2): Turned in one of season’s top plays, deflecting a pass to himself for a TD at Denver.

OT Lucas Niang (D-3): The long road back from injuries continues for Niang, who has appeared in 19 NFL games.

CB L’Jarius Sneed (D-4): Team’s top cornerback came up with three interceptions and 3 1/2 sacks.

DE Mike Danna (D-5): Having his best season; logged multiple sacks in two games.

P Tommy Townsend (DFA): Punted his way to an All-Pro selection.

OT Prince Tega Wanogho (FA): Most extensive action of his career (38 snaps) came against Jacksonville this season

2021

LB Nick Bolton (D-2): A tackling machine who set the Chiefs’ season record (180) and grabbed his first two picks.

G Creed Humphrey (D-2): Continues climb as second team All-Pro and member of Pro Bowl team.

DE Joshua Kaindoh (D-4): Inactive for every game this season.

TE Noah Gray (D-5): Big step in his second year, with 28 receptions while taking 52% of the snaps.

G Trey Smith (D-6): Run-game blaster who could easily have made the Pro Bowl.

TE Blake Bell (FA): Returned from injured reserve in time to catch his first regular-season touchdown pass

QB Shane Buechele (CFA): Could he become the No. 2 quarterback next season?

FB Michael Burton (FA): Short-yardage back whose number got called less as season played out.

DT Malik Herring (CFA): Appeared in seven games but spent final two months inactive on game days.

RB Jerick McKinnon (FA): Playing time looked iffy when he re-signed, but McKinnon has become invaluable.

G Joe Thuney (FA): Steady as a rock, Thuney was named to Pro Bowl team and is second-team All-Pro.

2022

CB Trent McDuffie (D-1): Hamstring injury in the opener set McDuffie back, but he’s started in all 11 games he’s played.

DE George Karlaftis (D-1): His six sacks ranks third among NFL rookies, and 5 1/2 of them have come in last seven games.

WR Skyy Moore (D-2): Rough go as a punt returner, but 250 yards on 22 receptions made for a good rookie season.

S Bryan Cook (D-2): Big hitter who made his biggest first-year impression on special teams.

LB Leo Chanel (D-3): Steadily improved throughout the season and evolved into an excellent run-stopper.

CB Joshua Williams (D-4): After playing extensively in middle part of the season, he didn’t log a defensive snap in Week 18.

OT Darian Kinnard (D-5): A project; logged six special teams snaps in one game.

CB Jaylen Watson (D-7): It appears Watson, who had the 99-yard return against the Chargers, will be the third corner in the playoffs.

RB Isiah Pacheco (D-7): Chiefs rookie of the year? A case can be made. He made his starting debut in Week 7 and hasn’t looked back.

CB Nazeeh Johnson (D-7): The Chiefs’ final draft pick logged 96 snaps in 11 games, all on special teams.

S Deon Bush (FA): As he did in six years with the Bears, Bush makes his impact on special teams.

WR Kadarius Toney (T-New York Giants): A dynamic player, Toney had five touches against Raiders and all were electric.

OT Geron Christian (FA): Reserve tackle has gotten a handful of snaps on special teams.

LB Jack Cochrane (CFA): Still looking for his first defensive snap.

DE Carlos Dunlap (FA): Topped all NFL linemen in batted passes, with eight. Karlaftis is next, with seven.

RB Ronald Jones (FA): Veteran finally saw extensive action (vs. Raiders) and got into end zone for first time this season.

CB Chris Lammons (FA): Special teams leader in snaps also returned a punt this season.

S Justin Reid (FA): A steady if statistically unspectacular first year with the Chiefs after four in Houston.

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (FA): Most receptions (78) and targets (101) among Chiefs’ wide receivers.

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (FA): Had a career-best 42 catches in ‘22. Maybe that long TD reception will come in playoffs.

WR Justin Watson (FA): Longest Chiefs play this season: Mahomes to Watson, 67 yards against Raiders.

DT Brandon Wiliams (FA): Late-season acquisition got in on a sack in his first game.