Latest Chiefs ranking proves just how well Brett Veach has drafted during his tenure as GM

The Kansas City Chiefs have given out a lot of large contracts as of late.

That's the price of success, which Kansas City has had plenty of over the past five years with three Super Bowl wins. Some of the players making big money for the Chiefs include quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, defensive tackle Chris Jones and offensive linemen Joe Thuney and Creed Humphrey.

When a team has a lot of big contracts on the books and wants to remain a contender, it has to get high-level production from young guys who are on rookie deals. That is exactly what the Chiefs have been able to accomplish over the last several years.

As proven by this chart from our friend Joseph Hefner of KC Sports Network, the Chiefs rank second in the NFL in snaps played by players who are still on their rookie contracts.

The Chiefs are getting a ton of snaps out of their third-year players in particularly, ranking second in the league at 1,082. Most of those guys are pillars of their defense, such as defensive backs Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Bryan Cook as well as defensive end George Karlaftis and linebacker Leo Chenal.

Other players still on their rookie contracts who are contributing in a big way are wide receiver Rashee Rice, linebacker Nick Bolton, guard Trey Smith and defensive back Chamarri Conner. This is a positive reflection of how well Brett Veach has drafted during his tenure as the Chiefs' GM.

Veach doesn't always get the credit he deserves from fans for drafting so well. Has he missed on some picks? Sure, but good luck finding a GM that hasn't. There aren't many, if any, teams in the league that are getting the type of production from players on rookie deals as K.C. is.

It's also a credit to the Chiefs' coaching staff for getting the most out of its young players. If they can keep it up, the Chiefs will remain contenders for years to come.

Related: Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo, DT Chris Jones squash an ongoing fan debate about LB Nick Bolton