If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Heading into Day three of the NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs have used all their draft capital on defense, and that didn’t change when they opened Day three by selecting corner/safety Jadon Canady from Oregon.
Well, if there was any doubt about the plan Kansas City Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach had for the 2026 NFL Draft, it was reinforced on Saturday with their fourth-round pick, when they drafted Oregon safety Jadon Canady. This marks the third straight draft; the Chiefs have selected a player from the Ducks’ roster.
Canady projects as a high-profile safety and has the versatility and skill set to play in the slot. According to ESPN’s Peter Schrager, the Chiefs drafted the next Honey Badger. With Justin Reid’s departure before the 2025 season, Canady fills another defensive need for Kansas City.
Last season, he recorded two interceptions and six pass deflections while leading the Ducks’ secondary. He’s a bit undersized, but his incredible athleticism makes up for it. His best feature is his ability to track the football in the air. Playing in the Big Ten last season, he faced some of the best quarterbacks in college football, which should help him adjust to the NFL.
In watching tape on Canady, he’s rarely out of position, and that’s an important factor the Chiefs’ defense has to address. Ball tracking has been a major issue for the Chiefs’ secondary in the past. That will change with Canady and first-round pick Mansoor Delane.
Now, Kansas City had other options, including wide receiver Deion Burks and running back Mike Washington, Jr, but that wasn’t the case because Veach has now solved most of his defensive needs. Kansas City could still take a side-to-side linebacker in the later rounds, but it’s clear that defense rules.
The Chiefs have two late round fifth round picks and a compensatory pick in the 6th so it’ll be a while before they’re on the clock.
Stay tuned to Chiefs Blitz.com for all the latest draft news.
