Do Chiefs see Creed Humphrey as a center or guard long-term? What GM Brett Veach says
Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey — a two-time Pro Bowler — battled snapping issues during the playoffs as KC won its second straight Super Bowl championship.
It begs the question: Do the Chiefs, who can extend Humphrey this offseason, view him as a center or guard in their long-term plans?
“I think both,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said Tuesday at the NFL Combine. “He’s had a couple center snap issues there that ... it’s funny, because those popped up early on in his career, and then they kind of went away. And then they kind of creep back up.
“But he’s a consummate professional, and there’s no one harder on himself than Creed.”
Veach still didn’t rule out the possibility of Humphrey making a position change in the future.
“I think Creed’s just a Pro Bowl football player. He’s a Pro Bowl interior lineman,” Veach said. “That’s how we see him.”
The Chiefs, to be clear, don’t appear ready to re-position Humphrey at this point.
When asked about Humphrey’s snapping issues on an elevated stage in front of reporters Tuesday, coach Andy Reid said the center was a “diligent, diligent player” who would address that particular shortcoming.
“He’ll take care of that. I’m not worried about that,” Reid said. “He’s a relentless worker, and he’ll get all that taken care of.”
Veach, for his part, also said Tuesday he believed in Humphrey’s ability to improve.
“I foresee him continuing to be our center and just playing at the high level that he has,” Veach said. “He’s one of those perfectionist guys, and whatever errors are in his game, he’ll work hard to correct those.”
Humphrey, who just completed his third pro season, is eligible now for an extension. That type of deal typically would come together later in the offseason, with the Chiefs first turning their attention to free agency and the draft.
The Chiefs selected Humphrey in the second round — with the 63rd overall pick — of the 2021 NFL Draft. Since then, Humphrey has graded first, first and fifth in Pro Football Focus’ center grades in his first three years as a professional.
Veach also addressed his team’s offensive tackle situation during Tuesday’s meeting with reporters. He said the team was “totally confident” in right tackle Jawaan Taylor while hoping to add some options at left tackle to go with Wanya Morris, a third-round rookie who started four games last season.
“Wanya had a chance to get his feet wet. And there was some good. And it wasn’t perfect. It was, I think, what you’d expect (from) a rookie,” Veach said. “But I think the ability’s there, and I think that there’s a great platform and foundation for him now moving forward. So we’ll do what we do every year: We’ll try to develop some competition there and some depth there at that left tackle.”
Additions could come in free agency, though Veach admitted that might be tough given other areas the team needs to address. Veach also indicated that KC could bring in some competition for Morris at some point in the draft.
Though Veach also mentioned the Chiefs return Lucas Niang and some other young players on their roster, that room does not appear to be set. Last year’s starter, Donovan Smith, is a free agent, and the Chiefs seem unlikely to stand pat given their current situation.
“It’ll be certainly at the point here,” Veach said, “where we have to bring in some depth and some competition.”
This story was originally published February 27, 2024 at 4:14 PM with the headline "Do Chiefs see Creed Humphrey as a center or guard long-term? What GM Brett Veach says."
