NFL Analyst has a high grade for the Chiefs' 2026 NFL Draft selections

The 2026 NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror, with the Kansas City Chiefs addressing several needs over the three days. NFL.com analyst Chad Reuter has released his grades for every team shortly after the conclusion, with Kansas City receiving a promising evaluation.

"Kansas City traded two mid-round picks to Cleveland to move up for Delane, the top cornerback in the class and a valid replacement for Trent McDuffie, who was traded to the Rams for four picks," wrote Reuter. "The return for McDuffie included the 29th overall selection, which the Chiefs used on active defensive lineman Woods, despite Woods' slide in production last fall. With their only Day 2 pick, they took Thomas over Cashius Howell, filling their need for speed on the edge with the former Oklahoma Sooner, who shows some surprising pass-rush power."

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach's decisions to make moves began with a first-round trade-up. He also focused on rebuilding the defense at different levels while snagging potential hidden gems on offense. The final pick was a low-risk, high-reward scenario with a possible long-term answer as a backup for Patrick Mahomes.

"Kansas City sent a fourth-round pick this year to the Patriots last April to select cornerback Nohl Williams and used another fourth on an underappreciated nickel in Canady," wrote Reuter, "Like Isiah Pacheco, Johnson could be another Day 3 steal for the Chiefs because of his combination of quickness, power, and vision. Allen's speed in the open field fits Kansas City perfectly, too. Nussmeier's stock dropped due to inconsistent play and injury concerns, but he can't ask for much more than learning behind Patrick Mahomes and from Andy Reid. No offensive linemen were selected by the Chiefs, so they'll need to address the unit after the draft."