It’s almost that time of the year. The 2026 NFL Draft is just over a week away now. At this point, teams have more or less a general idea of who they will be picking in this year’s rookie class. For the Kansas City Chiefs, it’s a chance for them to rebuild their roster after missing the postseason for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era.
The Chiefs have nine picks in this year’s NFL Draft. Let’s make a mock draft for the team that will, ideally, help them address their biggest needs.
A quick rundown of the Chiefs’ draft situation
As mentioned earlier, the Chiefs have a total of nine draft picks in this year’s NFL draft. That’s more than what a lot of teams have, and it gives them a ton of flexibility come draft day. They have two first-round picks (one coming from the Rams in the Trent McDuffie trade), one second, third, and fourth-round picks each, three fifth-round picks (a compensatory pick and another from the Rams), and a sixth-round pick (courtesy of the Rams yet again).
With two first-round picks, the Chiefs have the unique opportunity to grab two top-tier talents in Day 1 of the draft. Having five Day 3 picks is also an incredible luxury to have, giving them a lot of leverage to either trade for a veteran or take a shot at any prospects at that level.
As for what the Chiefs’ needs are, the most common needs that are mentioned are wide receiver, edge rusher, and defensive back. The Chiefs could also use a right tackle after Jawaan Taylor’s departure and a tight end as an insurance policy, but that’s not as big an immediate need as the three mentioned positions.
With all that in place, let’s craft a mock draft for the Chiefs.
Round 1, Pick #9 – OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
While we did say that right tackle isn’t an immediate need, it’s hard to pass up on a player at a premium position this early in the draft. Mauigoa is projected to be a Day 1 starter who can immediately contribute both in pass protection and in the run game. Kansas City’s offensive line is slowly deteriorating, but Mauigoa should give them an immediate shot in the arm for next season.
An honorable mention goes to Caleb Downs, who was available in this simulation. The Ohio State prospect is arguably the best player in this class, but positional value makes this a no-brainer for the Chiefs.
Round 1, Pick #29 – EDGE T.J Parker, Clemson
Moving to the opposite side of the line of scrimmage, the Chiefs still need an edge rusher to complement George Karlaftis. Their last few attempts to draft a pass rusher have not worked out as well as they would have hoped. T.J Parker is a high-floor prospect who also has a lot of room to develop. He’s a good fit for the Chiefs with his ability to set the edge and leverage his power into pressure against the quarterback.
Round 2, Pick #40- CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
The Chiefs badly need help at cornerback and at safety. After losing three of their starters in the secondary, they’ll need to be able to hit on their choices at the position. Cisse doesn’t quite have the physicality yet, but he’s one of the most athletically impressive cornerbacks in this year’s class. His quickness and agility should help him blossom into a quality starter in the future.
Round 3, Pick #74 – S Kamari Ramsey, USC
Keeping with the theme of drafting for their secondary, Ramsey is an ultra-versatile defensive back capable of playing both safety positions and as a slot cornerback. That kind of versatility is valued highly in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s schemes and is becoming the recent trend for safeties.
Round 4, Pick #109 – WR Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State
Another speedy wide receiver threat for the Chiefs? They certainly wouldn’t complain about that. Thompson has the blazing speed, but his routes need a little work, and his small frame could be an issue. Still, Kansas City loves their speedsters on offense, and Thompson is as fast as anyone in his class.
Round 5, Pick #148 – EDGE Max Llewellyn, Iowa
Llwellyn is the opposite of Parker in many ways. Parker is a two-move pass rusher who relies on his speed and power to get through opposing tackles. Llewllyn, on the other hand, has a ton of crafty moves in his arsenal, but his strength seems to be average. He will be a project for the Chiefs.
Round 5, Pick #169 – CB Thaddeus Dixon, UNC
Dixon is one of the better perimeter corners in the draft class, able to stick to wide receivers in press coverage fairly well. That, along with his aggressiveness on the ball and his versatility, should make him an excellent piece in the Chiefs’ defensive toolkit.
Round 5, Pick #175 – WR Jeff Caldwell, Cincinnati
One of the few true “X” receivers left, Caldwell’s height and contested catching ability will be a welcome addition to the Chiefs’ wide receiver room. His route-running will need some work to get open, but his build should make it easy for Andy Reid to scheme him open.
Round 6, Pick #210 – WR Zavion Thomas, LSU
A long-term project, Thomas projects to be a contributor on special teams to start his NFL career. However, his physical tools show promise that he can develop into an NFL-level wide receiver eventually.
It’s almost that time of the year. The 2026 NFL Draft is just over a week away now. At this point, teams have more or less a general idea of who they will be picking in this year’s rookie class. For the Kansas City Chiefs, it’s a chance for them to rebuild their roster after missing the postseason for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era.