The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft with two first-round picks after a retooling offseason. They aim to select high-end prospects to strengthen their roster following a playoff absence.
Key points
Chiefs missed playoffs for the first time since 2014
The 2026 offseason has looked a lot different than usual for the Kansas City Chiefs.
After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014, Andy Reid's squad has been retooling, more focused on the future than ever in the Patrick Mahomes era. The star quarterback is rehabbing from ACL surgery, but with eyes on a bounce-back year in 2026, the Chiefs have added running back Kenneth Walker, brought back tight end Travis Kelce, landed defensive depth in Khyiris Tonga and Alohi Gilman, and parted ways with star cornerback Trent McDuffie.
The benefit of the McDuffie deal with the Los Angeles Rams, however, was adding a second-first round pick. Kansas City will be able to bring in two high-end prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft — and for a team with no glaring holes, but room to add at many positions, there are a lot of players the Chiefs could target at No. 9 and No. 29.
Here's a ranking of the five best scenarios for the Chiefs with their two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Q&A
What are the Kansas City Chiefs' draft pick projections for 2026?
The Chiefs have two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, allowing them to target high-end prospects.
Who did the Chiefs acquire during the 2026 offseason?
The Chiefs added running back Kenneth Walker, tight end Travis Kelce, and defensive players Khyiris Tonga and Alohi Gilman.
Why did the Chiefs have two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft?
They acquired a second first-round pick through a trade involving cornerback Trent McDuffie with the Los Angeles Rams.
What positions could the Chiefs target with their first-round picks?
The Chiefs have room to add at many positions, but specific targets will depend on the draft scenarios they encounter.
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The Chiefs are one of the more unpredictable teams in the 2026 NFL Draft. They have various needs — it would make some sense to add players at edge rusher, cornerback, safety, wide receiver, tight end or on the offensive line. So, a "best player available" approach may not hurt.
If that's the case, and Miami pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. is on the board at No. 9, it's hard to see the Chiefs passing, even with Bain's arm length concerns and recent reports of legal issues. He's is expected to bring a disruptive capability to the NFL and could thrive alongside a veteran like Chris Jone; defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo having Bain at his disposal would help lift a pass rush that needs a boost.
Given the fact that the Chiefs traded an All-Pro cornerback to land the No. 29 pick, it would make sense if they then used it on a cornerback. In that range, Tennessee's Colton Hood will likely be the best available, if he's not off the board. Hood plays at an elite speed and is viewed as a capable Day 1 starter, and he could slot in nicely as CB2 behind Kristian Fulton.
Defense wasn't a massive issue for the Chiefs last season, but especially with McDuffie gone and Jones being 31, they're lacking in young, impact players. Going all-out for defensive talent in the first round, especially with a duo like Bain and Hood, would be a strong start to the draft.
If the Chiefs grab a player with Bain's defensive potential at No. 9, then perhaps they feel comfortable shifting their focus to offense. Surprisingly, Kansas City has lacked juice at its skill positions in recent years — Travis Kelce's age, a lack of investment in the running back room, Rashee Rice's legal issues and a lack of depth behind him all were apparent in 2025.
The addition of Walker will help that, but so could drafting a first-round wide receiver. No player in the No. 29 range could provide a jolt quite like K.C. Concepcion, who has some of the best burst and separation of any receiver in the class and would provide Mahomes with a weapon who can create big plays.
Drops have been an issue for Concepcion in the past, but an environment like the one Reid has created in Kansas City should help address it. Alongside Rice and Xavier Worthy's speed, Kansas City would have dynamic receiver room for years to come.
It appears likely that the Chiefs will go defense at No. 9. Bain has heavily been mocked to them in that slot, but so has LSU's Mansoor Delane, the consensus top cornerback in the draft.
After McDuffie's departure, the Chiefs would be getting a younger (and cheaper) potential star cornerback who made strong coverage look easy at Tennessee. Capable of making plays on the ball, moving with virtually any wide receiver or getting involved in the run game, Delane would become a focal point of Spagnouolo's secondary for years to come.
Once again, Concepcion is the projected No. 29 pick here, providing a balance of offense and defense for Kansas City. If he's no longer available, Washington receiver Denzel Boston would also make sense, but with a different skillset; Boston's size and ball skills would bring more of a red-zone threat for Mahomes.
Could the Chiefs go for a top-10 receiver? It feels unlike the franchise to pursue a wideout this high in a draft — they haven't even taken a receiver in the top-11 since Anthony Hancock in 1982, according to Pro Football Reference. But perhaps the front office is serious about giving Mahomes elite weapons as he begins to age and Kelce eventually retires.
If that's the case, this is a good draft to need a wide receiver. Especially if Bain and Delane are gone already, the Chiefs may be able to turn toward Carnell Tate, or more realistically, Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson. There have been injury concerns with Tyson, but when healthy, he's an explosive receiver who some have even pinned as the most talented in the class.
Tyson is the kind of player who can change games for the Chiefs, even as a rookie, and a pairing with Rice could certainly make for one of the NFL's best duos. The question is whether Kansas City feels comfortable with the positional value at No. 9.
If they do go offense at No. 9, adding a cornerback at No. 29 becomes a bit more vital. Hood is once again the selection here for best-case scenario, but San Diego State's Chris Johnson is another name to watch.
When Kelce decided to return to the Chiefs this offseason (again), it meant the team could delay its search for a new franchise tight end. Maybe they don't want to wait.
It appears unlikely, with Kansas City having more dire draft needs. But hypothetically, if Bain, Delane and Tate are off the board, and the Chiefs don't feel comfortable with Tyson's injury history, why not pursue a tight end who can not only make an immediate impact, but grow under Kelce over the next year or two?
As a blueprint, Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq could be what Isaiah Likely was to the Ravens or Dallas Goedert once was to the Eagles — a secondary weapon initially, helping the offense utilize heavier packages while learning behind a franchise great (Mark Andrews, Zach Ertz), before someday becoming the clear-cut TE1.
Sadiq is an athletic tight end who, like Kelce, can be dynamic after the catch. He's also a willing blocker, a potentially explosive weapon who has the tools to become one of the better receiving tight ends in the NFL. Giving Sadiq a year to learn behind Kelce before taking the training wheels off would be a wise long-term investment by Kansas City.
At No. 29, if the Chiefs do need a defender, Keldric Faulk could be a name to monitor. He brings versatility and size to the NFL, but needs some polishing with his arsenal. Both of these picks would be geared toward the longer-term — but that's a timeline that the Chiefs need to be thinking about more than ever.
