It's about that time. 

The hype is real. 

The anticipation has never been greater. 

The 2018 NFL Draft is almost upon us, which brings us to that time every year that fans across the league believe their team is just hitting on a few picks away from a deep playoff run the next year.

It's why the draft encapsulates everyone every year—it sells hope, which is a good thing, maybe the best of things. 

So, as you prepare your latest mock drafts while Googling all the players the Chiefs are reportedly connected to as we head towards Thursday night, here are eight interesting things to know about the draft. 

1.     It's his debut, but not his first rodeo

This will be Kansas City Chiefs' general manager Brett Veach's first draft in his current position, but just because he's now calling the shots for the first time doesn't mean he's not in his element—because he is.

"I'm looking forward to it," Veach explained. "I've been working up to it, been doing this for 12 years. I've been going to the draft room for a long time. Certainly, it will be different as a general manager, but I'm surrounded by a lot of great people and I trust those guys."

Veach laughed that it's not the football stuff that's new to him as general manager, it's everything else that comes along with it. 

"Just all the media stuff," he smiled. "Everything else I'm used to. I'm used to the players, I'm used to setting draft boards, sitting with the coaches and talking ball. That is where I am most comfortable."

2.     The Chiefs hold eight picks in the draft

As things *currently *stand, here are the eight picks the Chiefs hold in this year's draft:

Round 2 (No. 54 overall)

Round 3 (No. 76 overall)

Round 3 (No. 86 overall) * from Washington (Alex Smith trade)

Round 4 (No. 122)

Round 4 (No. 124) * from Los Angeles (Marcus Peters trade)

Round 6 (No. 196)

Round 7 (No. 233)

Round 7 (No. 243)

Interior disruption is , and you can never have enough talent up front. pic.twitter.com/iZbTvVXxXG — Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 10, 2018

3.     What could those picks bring?

Here are the best players in history drafted at each of those spots (by Pro Bowl nominations):

Round 2 (No. 54) – WR Anquan Boldin (Arizona, 2003)

Round 3 (No. 76) – LB Fredd Young (Seattle, 1994)

Round 3 (No. 86) – T Jackie Slater (Los Angeles, 1976), K Morten Anderson (New Orleans, 1982), WR Andre Reed (Buffalo, 1985). All three are Pro Football Hall of Famers.

Round 4 (No. 122) – LB Hardy Nickerson (Pittsburgh, 1987)

Round 4 (No. 124) – TE Ben Coates (New England, 1991)

Round 6 (No. 196) – RB Terrell Davis (Denver, 1995) – Pro Football Hall of Famer 

Round 7 (No. 233) – DE Clyde Simmons (Philadelphia, 1986)

Round 7 (No. 243) – TE Clark Harris (Green Bay, 2007) 

4.     Will Veach wheel and deal and move up in the draft?

"I think that's just kind of who I am," Veach told the media this week of being aggressive. "I have a group of guys up there who are worried that I'm going to be too aggressive, so I'm glad I have those guys."

Veach, who was laughing as he said that during his media availability, was asked about his willingness and desire to move up in the draft. The Chiefs first pick as things stand now is in the second round (No. 54 overall). 

"Everyone does this, and we've done this the last five years, you go through mock drafts just like you see online," Veach explained. "We kind of just play that game ourselves in regards to what do we do if (this happens), or what about if this guy slides. 

"I think every scenario had me trading up, and my [scouts] were like, 'We have a lot of good picks here,'" he laughed. 

So, there you go. 

5.     Who is being mocked to the Chiefs right now?

Here's the latest mock draft roundup.

Within those seven mock drafts that were aggregated, there six different positions mentioned at pick No. 54, and the only one that had multiple selections was cornerback, which had Wisconsin's Nick Nelson and Auburn's Carlton Davis as the two picks. 

Here's what Veach said last week when asked about the cornerback position.

"We still have guys like Keith Reaser and Will Redmond that people won't really talk about. Redmond was a mid-round pick by the 49ers coming off an injury, and Reaser is another guy we like, and I think he was also coming off an injury out of Florida Atlantic a few years back. 

"A lot of people won't talk about those guys, but when you start stacking those types of players in regards to what is out there in the draft class, you feel good about them."

The other five positions mentioned in the mocks were offensive tackle, defensive line, edge rusher, receiver, and tight end. 

Basically, nobody knows what the Chiefs are going to do. 

5️⃣ edge rushers to know in the #NFLDraft, including one from right down the road. pic.twitter.com/YySMJNqbCq — Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 6, 2018

6.     Chiefs' Draft History since 2013

Granted it was with John Dorsey as general manager, but Veach was on the staff, so here's a look at the positional breakdown of what the Chiefs have done in the draft over the past five years. 

38 total players

8 defensive backs

3 defensive linemen

3 edge rushers

4 linebackers

6 offensive linemen

3 quarterbacks

3 running backs

2 tight ends

6 receivers

*7.     Veach recently spoke about drafting offensive linemen *

"I think versatility (along the OL) is a premium and that's why linemen go high, and that's why you have to draft a few every year."

8.     What do the numbers tell us?

Here's a look at what the numbers at each position were going into training camp last year, and where the Chiefs are at right now at those spots.

It's important to note that the Chiefs can still sign veteran free agents, as well as undrafted free agents after the draft is over.