Chiefs Getting Much-Needed Boost To Defensive Line After 2026 NFL Draft

Chiefs Getting Much-Needed Boost To Defensive Line After 2026 NFL Draft

The Kansas City Chiefs found itself in an unusual position last year, winning just six games and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Not only was that unusual, considering it was the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era that the team didn’t play extra football, but it was unusual to see the Chiefs having a top 10 pick in the National Football League draft this past week.

The last time that happened was 2017, when the Chiefs traded up from the 27th overall pick to select Mahomes, and it changed the franchise in so many ways. Kansas City was bad enough to land inside the top 10 all by itself, and there are several reasons why.

Offensively, the running game provided little to no support for Mahomes and the passing game, making it easier to stop Kansas City’s attack. The team couldn’t generate explosive runs and it was obvious that teams were selling out for the pass throughout games, forcing Mahomes to beat them through the air.

The Chiefs appear to have solved this problem by signing the reigning Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, former Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, $43.05 million deal that can be up to $45 million with incentives. Walker was a force for Seattle, especially when fellow running back Zach Charbonnet went down with injury during the divisional round of the playoffs. He will be an excellent addition to this team.

Defensively, the team lacked an effective pass-rush which allowed other teams to work through plays in structure way too often. Kansas City made some depth signings that should improve the defensive line, but that problem was mostly addressed through the draft.