KANSAS CITY, MO — This is it. The board is set, the long hours of film study are in the books, and the Kingdom is ready. For the first time since the Mahomes era began, we are picking in the top 10, and let’s don’t get it twisted—this draft isn’t just about filling spots; it’s about finding “Golden Jacket” dogs with the hearts of lions.
With two first-round picks at No. 9 and No. 29, the Chiefs have a rare chance to reload the weapon stash and the defensive front in one night. Here is my final 7-round roadmap for the 2026 Kansas City Chiefs.
ROUND 1, PICK 9: JORDYN TYSON (WR, ARIZONA STATE)
The “Sonic to the Podium” Pick
If Jordyn Tyson is there at 9, you don’t walk—you sprint. I compare Tyson to Ja’Marr Chase. If you can get Patrick Mahomes a weapon like Chase at No. 9, you’ve just declared war on the AFC.
Tyson is a 6’2″ technician who plays like an alpha. After a monster 1,100-yard season in ’24 and a 2025 campaign where he dropped his drop rate to a staggering 1.0%, he is the ultimate “Security Blanket.” He’s got that explosive burst and “Sonic” speed that will have Brett Veach racing to the podium. If the medicals from his April 17th workout are clean, this is a generational pairing.
Alternative: Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)
ROUND 1, PICK 29: ZION YOUNG (EDGE, MISSOURI)
Alternative: Denzel Boston (WR, Washington)
We’re keeping the talent local. Zion Young is a 6’6″, 262-pound physical nightmare. He’s an elite edge-setter who plays with a relentless motor, leading Mizzou with 16.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks last season. Pairing him with George Karlaftis gives the Chiefs two of the most disciplined “dogs” in the league. If Zion is gone, Denzel Boston (6’4″) is the pick here to give Mahomes a massive red-zone threat.
THE DAY 2 & 3 GRIND: PIECING THE PUZZLE
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School | My Take |
| 2 | 40 | Caleb Banks | DT | Florida | The Interior Anchor. A 330-lb athletic freak with 35-inch arms. He’s the interior force that lets the edge rushers eat. |
| 3 | 74 | Ephesians Prysock | CB | Washington | The “Spags” Special. Standing at 6’4″, Prysock is a towering press-coverage monster with a 4.45 40-yard dash. |
| 4 | 109 | Michael Trigg | TE | Baylor | The Mismatch. A “Big Slot” weapon who learns the craft from Travis Kelce. Recorded 50 catches and 6 TDs in 2025. |
| 5 | 148 | Markel Bell | OT | Miami (FL) | The Willie Roaf Blueprint. Put him at Right Tackle and you have a 2006-style wall in the making. 6’9″, 346 lbs of pure grit. |
| 5 | 169 | Kendal Daniels | LB | Oklahoma | The Hybrid. 53 tackles and 9 TFLs at the “Cheetah” position. He brings the speed and range needed for the modern NFL. |
| 5 | 176 | Zakee Wheatley | S | Penn State | The IQ. A “Takeaway King” with an elite 85.9 PFF grade. The coach on the field. |
| 6 | 210 | Josh Cameron | WR | Baylor | The Grinder. 69 catches for 872 yards and 9 TDs. A special teams ace who won’t be outworked in camp. |
WHY THEY FIT THE CHIEFS: THE BREAKDOWN
Round 2, Pick 40: Caleb Banks | DT | Florida
Banks is a 330-lb mountain with rare movement skills. In the Chiefs’ defensive front, he’s the perfect interior anchor to pair with Chris Jones. He recorded 10.5 career TFLs and 6.5 sacks—he’s a high-upside interior disruptor who projects as an athlete with a first-round ceiling.
Round 3, Pick 74: Ephesians Prysock | CB | Washington
I chose Prysock because of that skyscraper frame. At 6’4″, he is the longest corner in the draft. He fits the “L’Jarius Sneed” mold—a physical, press-man bully who can mirror and match elite receivers while using his 4.45 closing speed to erase windows.
Round 4, Pick 109: Michael Trigg | TE | Baylor
Think of Trigg as the ultimate chess piece. Standing at 6’4″ and 240 lbs, he is an athletic freak with 14 career touchdowns. While Travis Kelce continues to defy age, Trigg gives Andy Reid a “Big Slot” weapon who can run through arm tackles after the catch. He’s too fast for linebackers and too big for safeties—the exact kind of mismatch Mahomes loves to exploit.
Round 5, Pick 148: Markel Bell | OT | Miami (FL)
Let’s don’t get it twisted—Markel Bell is a physical anomaly. Standing at 6’9″ and 346 lbs with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, he has the same “mountain of a man” presence that made Willie Roaf a legend. Putting him at RT gives Mahomes a 2006-style wall. He allowed zero sacks in 2025 with an 83.5 pass-blocking grade. He’s not just a blocker; he’s a finisher.
Round 5, Pick 169: Kendal Daniels | LB | Oklahoma
Daniels is a hybrid “dog” who brings elite range. At 6’4″ and 230 lbs, he played the “Cheetah” role at Oklahoma. In 2025, he totaled 53 tackles and 9 TFLs, showing the versatility to drop into coverage against elite TEs or fly downhill to stop the run. He’s exactly the kind of “heart of a lion” athlete Spagnuolo needs for the modern NFL defense.
Round 5, Pick 176: Zakee Wheatley | S | Penn State
Wheatley is a high-IQ safety who recorded 74 tackles and a 69.2 passer rating allowed in 2025. One of the fastest safeties in the class, he excels in single-high looks and takes sound angles to the ball. In Spagnuolo’s complex schemes, you need safeties who can disguise their intentions. Wheatley is that deep-zone ball-hawk who keeps the top on the defense.
Round 6, Pick 210: Josh Cameron | WR | Baylor
Cameron is a grinder who led Baylor in catches (69) and yards (872) last season. He’s a physical receiver who excels after the catch and brings elite punt-return flair, including a 73-yard TD scamper. A former walk-on, he carries that “heart of a lion” mentality that fits our locker room perfectly.
THE FINAL VERDICT
This draft is built on size, speed, and heart. We’ve secured a Ja’Marr Chase-level talent in Jordyn Tyson, a skyscraper at cornerback in Prysock, and a “Willie Roaf in the making” at Right Tackle with Markel Bell. The homestand of the offseason is wrapping up—we’ve added the dogs, now it’s time to go get the rings.
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