The Kansas City Chiefs hope their 2026 Draft Class rivals their 2022 class, and we all know how well that worked out for the Chiefs. However heralded, the new kids will be judged by their impact on the roster.
For those who love draft grades, this isn’t the place to find them. Assigning letter grades to players, teams, and general managers makes no sense. What matters is whether these players will make an immediate impact, a delayed impact, or ultimately be a bust.
The goal entering the NFL Draft for the Chiefs, for me, was finding at least four starters who could impact the roster in 2026. So, let’s take a realistic look at each pick and see when they’ll be prime-time players for the Chiefs.
Round 1 (Pick 6): CB Mansoor Delane, LSU – This was the Chiefs’ best draft pick, and yes, they gave up significant draft capital to trade up with the Cleveland Browns, but Delane was worth the price.
There’s no question his impact will be immediate as the Chiefs retool their secondary, which lost three starters, Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, and Bryan Cook. Delane is the best corner in college football, and it’s not close.
Impact 2026: Yes
Round 1 (Pick 29): DT Peter Woods, Clemson – You can throw out Woods’ 2025 season at Clemson. The team asked him to shed weight and take more snaps as an edge rusher. Though he can play any position on the defensive line, he’s clearly the best nose tackle in this draft.
What makes him special is that he’s relentless at the point of attack and a premier disrupter, and those are hard to find. Woods will eventually replace Jones, but the two will be able to work together for at least one season, which should speed up his development.
Impact 2026: Yes
Round 2 (Pick 40): Edge R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma – Major props to General Manager Brett Veach, who went outside his comfort zone by drafting speed and ignoring size and the prototypical pass rusher this team has drafted in the past.
Thomas has the attributes of Von Miller and former Sooner Nik Bonitto (Broncos). If he has that type of career in Kansas City, this will be hailed as one of the best draft picks in Chiefs history.
Impact 2026: Yes
Round 4 (Pick 109): S Jadon Canady, Oregon – The Chiefs are going to have fun with their new safety/corner. Canady can play anywhere in the secondary. His game is very much like that of Tyrann Mathieu, who has speed and ball instinct but lacks the overall size you want in a safety.
I imagine he’ll play a lot in the slot, but I think his long-term value will be as a safety. He is solid in pass coverage and adept at run defense, which makes this pick intriguing for Chiefs Defensive Backs Coach Dave Merritt.
Impact 2026: Yes
Round 5 (Pick 161): RB Emmett Johnson, Nebraska – Tell me how the Big Ten’s premier running back slipped to the fifth round? Of all the third-day picks for the Chiefs, this selection might have the greatest impact on the 2026 roster.
Even though Kansas City spent big bucks on free-agent running back Emmett Walker III, Johnson offers the perfect 1-2 punch for new Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy. The Nebraska superstar can run, catch, block, and take pressure off Walker and his quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.
Impact 2026: Yes
Round 5 (Pick 176): WR Cyrus Allen, Cincinnati – With a need at receiver, the Chiefs found a terrific playmaker who can stretch the field but must learn the entire route tree at the NFL level. That’s not a knock. Despite impressive numbers for the Bearcats’ offense, he needs some development time.
When Chad O’Shea was hired as the new wide receivers coach, he had a long history of turning potential into superstar status. Allen might not be in that class yet, but it’ll be interesting to see how he handles the competition at receiver in Kansas City.
Impact 2026: No
Round 7 (Pick 249): QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU – The son of New Orleans Saints Offensive Coordinator Doug Nussmeier had to wait until the end of the seventh round for his son to be drafted, but he could not be in better hands, learning from Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid.
Make no mistake, Nussmeier is a legit NFL prospect, and the Chiefs were wise to select him before he became an undrafted free agent. I’m curious why the Saints didn’t take him, but perhaps it would have strained family dynamics. Regardless, he’s about to get a first-class masterclass from Reid and Patrick Mahomes, which could elevate Nussmeier to a full-time backup in 2027.
Impact 2026: No
