Chiefs News: GM Brett Veach on Samaje Perine, Cam Thomas and Eric Scott

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs normal supervisor Brett Veach has been a busy man, even exterior the unenviable job of chopping the workforce’s roster to 53 gamers each entrance workplace accomplished this week.

Veach’s work went past the expertise already within the constructing.

Forward of the cutdown deadline, the Chiefs added former Arizona Cardinals go rusher Cam Thomas and former Dallas Cowboys tight finish Peyton Hendershot through minor trades. One other former Cowboy might be coming to Kansas Metropolis after the workforce was awarded cornerback Eric Scott on waivers. The Chiefs have additionally reportedly agreed to phrases with operating again Samaje Perine after he was launched by the Denver Broncos.

On Thursday, Veach mentioned the current transactions throughout his starting of the season press convention.

“I feel we have been in a position to handle some evident wants,” Veach famous. “The fifth defensive finish and the third down operating again place, I feel it’s comparable once you get so far of the season with each GM. I feel there’s at all times one thing else you are able to do…I feel we really feel good. however I feel there’s at all times room for enchancment.”

RB Samaje Perine

Whereas Perine’s signing has not but been made official as of Thursday, Veach confirmed the transfer.

“He’s within the constructing now,” the final supervisor said. “It’s only a matter of us turning the papers in, however he’s good to go, and I feel he’s already received the playbook and received the primary few conferences in with the coaches right here. I’m positive you’ll see that on the transaction wire right here quickly.”

Veach sees Perine becoming into the third-down again position Jerick McKinnon dealt with over the previous three seasons. He hopes the veteran might be able to take that position subsequent Thursday, because the Chiefs welcome the Baltimore Ravens to kick off the season.

“That third down Jerick McKinnon position,” he noticed, “we clearly have some guys that may run and catch. However that proficiency in go professional, I feel is likely one of the issues that Samaje brings to the desk. He’s been the most effective within the NFL the previous few years on third down in regard to targets and go protections.

“He’s only a veteran participant that fills that position. We’re actually excited to carry him in and get him up and operating. Hopefully, he’s up to the mark rapidly sufficient to be energetic on Thursday evening.”

DE Cam Thomas

The Chiefs start the season gentle at go rusher. Charles Omenihu stays on the bodily unable to carry out (PUP) record after tearing his ACL throughout final season’s playoffs. BJ Thompson will open the season on the non-football sickness (NFI) record after a daunting cardiac arrest episode throughout offseason conferences.

Veach confirmed their absence was a driving consider buying and selling for Thomas.

“After we completed our offseason and went into coaching camp,” he recalled, “one of many positions the place we have been involved was actually [defensive] finish. I feel in case you look since I’ve been right here, we’ve at all times carried 5 d-ends. Gameday, it is perhaps 4; some video games it’s 5. However I feel on the energetic roster, we’ve at all times carried 5 d-ends. Clearly, with BJ’s state of affairs and Omenihu’s harm, we have been looking out so as to add a fifth defensive finish.”

Thomas reminds Veach of certainly one of his greatest current draft alternatives.

“I feel Cam is a man that we like popping out,” Veach famous. “He’s a high-motor participant, and he has some George Karlaftis qualities with the best way he performs and the way he assaults issues.”

Thomas’ versatility additionally aided Veach’s consolation in going with solely 4 defensive tackles on the energetic roster (with three extra presently on the apply squad.

“On the line of defense specifically,” he defined, “we did have some numbers that have been shut. We felt like we’d have a superb chanceto get a few of these guys on the apply squad to make use of the elevation. There’s somewhat of a while to get [back] Omenihu, who’s going to be the large piece for us down the stretch. I feel we [found] a man that we really feel provides somewhat bit perhaps extra upfield rush in that group.”

CB Eric Scott

Veach defined that claiming the Basehor, Kansas native Scott was a part of a daily means of evaluating the expertise on the waiver wire. He additionally recognized cornerback as the toughest place to strengthen through waivers.

“Scott,” Veach stated of the transfer, “that goes again to the waiver wire and simply at all times throwing some numbers at that.”

We additionally realized on Thursday that the Chiefs positioned claims on two different cornerbacks who went to groups with increased precedence.

“I feel now we have some unproven items on the nook place,” Veach admitted, “however I do assume now we have some expertise there and a few guys have performed up to now. So, once more, I feel there’s at all times room to get higher and I feel we wouldn’t be doing our job if we weren’t regularly combing via the waiver wire and the transactions.”

TE Peyton Hendershot

Chiefs assistant head coach and particular groups coordinator Dave Toub will like listening to Veach’s causes for including Hendershot.

“Whenever you get to the ultimate touches of a 53-man roster,” stated Veach, “I feel you’re searching for particular groups. Previous to signing Samaje, we have been nonetheless searching for operating again, tight finish [and] particular groups assist. I feel Hendershot’s a man that’s performed tons of particular groups reps [in Dallas].”

Hendershot’s presence may also assist returning tight finish Noah Grey focus extra on offense as he enters the ultimate season of his rookie contract.

“It is going to even be good to take Noah off a few of these issues,” Veach predicted. “I feel Noah continues to get higher, and he’s a man that I feel we need to function somewhat bit extra this 12 months. Understanding that, it’s good to have the flexibility to take him off a few of these particular groups.”

As a former scout, Veach is meticulous in persevering with to go after gamers he favored within the pre-draft course of. He trusts the Chiefs’ workers to maximise the expertise he acquires.

“[We are] lucky” Veach boasted, “that now we have an ideal teaching workers that if they’ve it, we’ll get it out of them. When you’ve got a man that has traits, [we’re] at all times keen to take an opportunity there.”