KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs, like every NFL team, routinely gather their scouts this time of year to discuss how they think the upcoming draft will unfold and how the team should proceed if a particular player slides beyond most projections to a spot ahead of where the Chiefs are scheduled to pick.

Brett Veach, one of Kansas City's top scouts for the past five drafts, always had the same reaction to what the Chiefs should do about a favored player who was falling.

"Every scenario had me trading up," Veach said.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach enters this year's draft with eight picks, but none in the first round. Trevor Ruszkowski/USA Today Sports

That could be instructive as Veach prepares for his first draft as the Kansas City general manager. Last July he replaced John Dorsey, who was fired.

His instinct to trade doesn't mean the Chiefs are going to try to deal for every draft prospect they feel they can't survive without. But it doesn't mean they won't, either.

"That's kind of who I am," Veach said. "I have a group of [Chiefs scouts] that are worried I'm going to be too aggressive. I'm glad I have those guys."

Chasing coveted players in the draft is nothing new for the Chiefs. Just last year they moved up in the first round to draft Patrick Mahomes II and in the third round to get Kareem Hunt. They were rewarded with a talented quarterback who is now their starter and a running back who led the NFL in rushing last season as a rookie.

2018 NFL DRAFT Round 1: Thursday, 8 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App

Rounds 2-3: Friday, 7 p.m., ESPN/ESPN App

Rounds 4-7: Sat., noon, ESPN/ABC/ESPN App

Where: Arlington, Texas

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The Chiefs opened last year's draft with 10 picks and made just six choices because of their various trades. This year they have eight picks and none in the first round. They traded that pick last year as part of the deal to acquire Mahomes.

The Chiefs don't have as much to work with in terms of trade material as they did last year. But that won't necessarily prevent them from making a deal or two.

"You don't always have to acquire picks," Veach said. "Sometimes draft equity is the best asset you have, but also another valuable asset is your ability to evaluate your talent and be confident in guys. That's where I think my aggressiveness comes in.

"We'll operate with that mindset."

Two players Veach wanted for the Chiefs when he was a scout were an offensive lineman, Cam Erving, and a linebacker, Reggie Ragland. Erving instead went to the Browns in the first round in 2015, Ragland in the second round to the Bills a year later.

Shortly after taking over as general manager last summer, Veach traded a draft pick for each player. Ragland became a starter last season.

"We think [Ragland] can be a star," Veach said. "We think him and Anthony Hitchens will be a dynamic duo."

Erving is a backup who can play several positions. Veach views that versatility as essential for a reserve lineman.

"Cam has all the ability in the world," Veach said. "He'll get a shot to continue to compete for those interior spots and provide [flexibility] at tackle. Those guys are very hard to find.

"We traded a fifth-round pick for him. But really that skill set is hard to find in the fifth, sixth round."

Veach tried last summer to trade for wide receiver Sammy Watkins. One thing that stopped him was that the Chiefs would have had to part with their second-round pick this year. He felt the Chiefs couldn't afford the price after already having dealt this year's first-round pick.

But in an example of how dogged his pursuit of a player can be, the Chiefs signed Watkins this year after he had become a free agent.

That's why there's no telling what this weekend might bring for the Chiefs.

"I learned a lot from John," Veach said. "I think some of the processes we have in place are very similar.

"So I think some of the structure is the same, but I think everyone is inherently different in how they see things and how they envision the team -- both now and in the future. There will be some of those differences."