The end of the first round of the NFL Draft was approaching and the Chiefs, with the 31st pick, were willing to trade. They just needed a partner.

That’s when a phone call took place between general managers Brett Veach of the Chiefs and Howie Roseman of the Philadelphia Eagles, who held the No. 32 pick.

The teams that met in two of the last three Super Bowls knew the players they favored and wanted to be sure their guy would be available.

“I have a good relationship with Howie,” Veach said. “When you get to these picks late in the (round) and they’re eyeing a particular player, they’re worried about getting jumped by another team.”

The GMs didn’t identify their draft targets to each other.

“I just said, ‘Is it offense or defense?’” Veach said.

When Veach learned the Eagles were looking at a defensive player and knew the Chiefs wanted to draft an offensive player, the deal was made. Philly would get the No. 31 pick; the Chiefs, in return, would get the Eagles’ No. 32 selection and one of their four picks in the fifth round, No. 164 overall.

With their respective new selection slots, Philadelphia selected Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell and the Chiefs took tackle Josh Simmons from Ohio State.

“They got the player they wanted, we got the player we wanted,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said.

Plus, in the Chiefs’ case, that extra pick. The Chiefs previously faced entering the final two days of the draft with no selections between the fourth and seven rounds. Now they have a spot in the fifth round and a total of eight picks over the final two days.

Unless they deal again.

“The cherry on top is getting the fifth-round pick,” Veach said. “We didn’t have one. This keeps us in play.”

Last season, the Chiefs selected offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad in the fifth round. In the Veach era, the fifth round has produced tight end Noah Gray and defensive end Mike Danna.

Veach mentioned defensive line and cornerback as positions the Chiefs will seek to address in the draft’s second and third rounds on Friday. The Chiefs have one pick in the second round and two in the third.

“I enjoy (Friday) because there’s a little more creative navigation, more room to get creative,” Veach said.

Kansas City Chiefs 2025 NFL Draft picks

1st round, No. 32 overall (from Philadelphia): T Josh Simmons, Ohio State

2nd round, No. 63 overall

3rd round, No. 66 overall (from Tennessee in L’Jarius Sneed trade)

3rd round, No. 95 overall

4th round, No. 133 overall

5th round, No. 164 overall (from Philadelphia)

7th round, No. 226 overall

7th round, No. 251 overall (compensatory pick)

7th round, No. 257 overall (compensatory pick)