With the NFL Draft one week away, the Kansas City Chiefs are finalizing their draft board and have a plethora of options with nine upcoming picks. However, the big question will be their ability to find a balance between offensive and defensive needs. If they can navigate those needs, choose best available, and trust their draft boards, this could be a solid draft for Kansas City.
The NFL Draft is anything but an exact science, and with one week until the Kansas City Chiefs are on the clock with two first-round picks, it’s nearly impossible to predict what General Manager Brett Veach will do once the draft begins.
Kansas City will select three of the Top 40 players in this draft, who could be penciled in as starters. Entering the draft, the Chiefs have needs at pass rusher, defensive tackle, cornerback, safety, wide receiver, and tight end. This draft should give Veach the opportunity to retool his roster on both sides of the ball.
Pick #9 – (TE) Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon) – I passed on Wide Receiver Jordyn Tyson, because I simply can’t ignore the talents of the Oregon Tight End. It’s possible the Chiefs trade back and still grab him at #12 or #13, but if no deal is made, adding the talented offensive player will give Patrick Mahomes a shiny new weapon. Sadiq has size, speed, and yac, and the benefits he will gain from understudying a year with future Hall of Fame Tight End Travis Kelce should shorten his learning curve at the NFL level.
Further, the fact that Sadiq made his Top 30 Visit with the Chiefs on the same day Kelce was in the building signing his new three-year deal can’t be a coincidence.
Pick #29 – (DT) Caleb Banks (Florida) – Banks would likely have fallen to the Chiefs at pick forty, but I’m not taking that chance. He’s the best defensive tackle in this draft, yet teams have been shying away from his enormous talent. Pair him with Bain, and the Chiefs’ defensive line suddenly becomes one of the best in the AFC West. Given Chris Jones’ age, Banks could be his replacement.
Pick #40 – (Edge) Zion Young (Missouri) – The last time the Kansas City Chiefs selected a Missouri Tiger in the second round, they came away with Linebacker Nick Bolton. By adding Young, the Chiefs get a much-needed edge rusher. Young has speed, power, and a relentless motor that should make him an instant starter. George Karladtis struggled a year ago, and with Ashston Gillotte still learning the NFL system, Young is a perfect fit for the Chiefs’ defensive scheme.
Pick #74 – (WR) Ted Hurst (Georgia State) – Don’t let the small-school label keep you from this talented wide receiver. In fact, Hurst is my favorite receiver in this class. He has the height, speed, and range to make plays whenever Mahomes throws to him. When I look at Hurst, I see a potential superstar. Under the tutelage of new Wide Receivers Coach Chad O’Shea, Hurst could make an immediate impact.
Pick #109 – (OT) Drew Shelton (Penn State) – The Chiefs remain unsettled at right tackle with Esa Pole and Jaylon Moore battling to replace Jawaan Taylor. Shelton isn’t the biggest tackle, but he has excellent footwork. He’s a warrior on the offensive line, and he was a two-year starter at Penn State. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a work in progress, so this is a value pick, but he could make some noise in camp if he can learn to engage his upper body to fend off pass rushers.
Pick #148 – (CB) Tacario Davis (Washington) – The last time the Chiefs drafted a cornerback from Washington, it worked out very well for Kansas City. Davis is an underrated cornerback, and the fact that he’s survived this late on the board is a failure by 31 other NFL teams. With fellow rookie Pounds, Davis could form a valuable duo as KC rebuilds the cornerback position.
Pick #169 – (S) VJ Payne (Kansas State) – The local product has been climbing the draft boards, and in every mock draft I’ve done to date, his name keeps coming up. With Bryan Cook’s loss, he could lock into a starting role this season. He has all the intangibles to fit Spags’ complex defense and be a solid second-half player in 2026.
Pick #176 – (Edge) Max Llewellyn (Iowa) – As an edge rusher, the Hawkeye defender isn’t elite, but he’s a solid glue guy who can develop into a key piece of the defense. He won’t start for the Chiefs, but he’s insurance if Gillotte doesn’t develop in 2026. He could develop into a Glue Guy on defense and ultimately replace Drue Tranquill as a starter in 2027.
Pick #210 – (LB) Red Mirdock (Buffalo) – If you’re looking for a steal this late in the NFL Draft, the Chiefs would be wise to add some Red to their linebacker core. Mirdock reminds me of former Chief Donnie Edwards. He can do it all and just needs time to develop into his role. With the loss of Leo Chenal in free agency, Mirdock could fill those cleats.
On Monday, I’ll post my Final Mock Draft with trades, surprises, and what my gut tells me the Chiefs will do next week to reload their roster.
