Who will Chiefs take in 2026 NFL Draft? See our predictions in first mock draft
Coming off the first losing season of the Andy Reid era, the Chiefs approach their most important draft with several early round options to fill needs.
With two first-round picks — the ninth and 29th overall selections — and four in the top 74, do they go defensive end, cornerback, wide receiver or a different direction?
Chiefs beat writers Pete Sweeney and Blair Kerkhoff convened in the draft room to come up with choices for all nine picks. It’s The Star’s mock draft, the first in a series leading up to the event in Pittsburgh on April 23-25.
Round 1, pick 9: LSU CB Mansoor Delane
In a league where, as they say, “you can never have enough pass rushers,” I have my doubts about David Bailey or Rueben Bain Jr. being available when Kansas City is on the clock at No. 9. And even if one is on the board, neither exactly fits Steve Spagnuolo’s ideal EDGE profile.
If the Chiefs had to play a game tomorrow, with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson now in Los Angeles, they’d be turning to Kristian Fulton and Nohl Williams as their starting boundary cornerbacks. And considering Fulton’s injury troubles in 2025, they need more.
LSU’s Mansoor Delane was a unanimous first-team All-American, and his profile as a press-man corner with positional versatility fits what Spagnuolo might be looking for with a pick this high.
Round 1, pick 29: Missouri EDGE Zion Young
We believe Spagnuolo may have concerns about Bailey and Bain’s measurables, but that’s not the case for local Missouri edge rusher Zion Young. At 6-6 with 33-inch arms, he’s the kind of player we suspect will have the defensive coordinator’s attention.
Young transferred to Mizzou in 2024 after two seasons at Michigan State. From 2024-25 with the Tigers, he registered nine sacks — and the power rusher should be able to set the edge against the run.
Success at the Senior Bowl has historically been a tell for the Chiefs, and Young helped himself with a strong week of practices, capped by American Team Player of the Game honors.
Round 2, pick 40: Washington WR Denzel Boston
Considering the defensive departures from the 2022 draft class, I imagine this group will lean heavily toward that side of the ball. But Kansas City still has holes on offense, too.
With Hollywood Brown gone and questions surrounding Rashee Rice (who enters the final season of his rookie contract), I like the Chiefs to address receiver on Day 2. At 6-4 and 212 pounds, Washington’s Denzel Boston could be the big-bodied receiver capable of winning 50-50 balls to thrive with Patrick Mahomes.
Boston finished his Washington career with back-to-back 800-plus-yard seasons, but what stands out is his 20 touchdowns. Boston opted out of the 40-yard dash at both the Scouting Combine and his pro day, which could leave him there for the taking early on Day 2.
Round 3, pick 74: Georgia CB Daylen Everette
It’s a theme, folks. No members of 2022’s “Fab Five” — McDuffie, Watson, Bryan Cook, Joshua Williams and Nazeeh Johnson — remain with the club entering 2026.
Much like the Chiefs did in that draft, I anticipate them throwing numbers at the position again.
At 6-1 with a 4.38 40-yard dash, Everette has the size and speed Spagnuolo would love to hand over to defensive backs coach Dave Merritt and see what he can do. The versatile cornerback started 41 games at Georgia and was named first-team All-SEC for the 2025 season.
Round 4, pick 109: Baylor TE Michael Trigg
Since 2016, the Chiefs have drafted two tight ends: Noah Gray in 2021 and Jared Wiley in 2024. Look for another to be selected this year.
Trigg, whose college career took him to USC and Ole Miss before Baylor, is a pass-catching tight end who set a school record with 155 receiving yards against Kansas State last season. He’s not known for run blocking, but he has the measurables. Trigg’s wingspan was the largest ever measured for tight ends at the NFL Combine.
Round 5, pick 148: Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne
The Chiefs have added Kenneth Walker and Emari Demercado. Brashard Smith will play his second season. Bringing back Kareem Hunt remains a possiblity.
Claiborne has sprinter speed and returned two kicks for touchdowns during his Wake Forest career. He finished as the school’s fourth all-time rushing leader.
Round 5, pick 169: Miami (Florida) safety Jakobe Thomas
One thing about the transfer-portaling college player is they learn new systems almost every year. Thomas played three seasons at Middle Tennessee State and one each at Miami and Tennessee.
He recorded nine interceptions in college, including five last season for the Hurricanes. He was part of the defense that put the clamps on opponents on Miami’s ride to the CFP Championship game.
Round 5, pick 176: Penn State offensive tackle Drew Shelton
This seems late for the Chiefs to grab an offensive tackle. Shelton started for two seasons at left tackle for Penn State and his 31-inch vertical at the combine reflects his basketball background. He allowed one sack in 350 pass-blocking snaps last season.
Round 6, pick 210: Georgia Tech wide receiver Eric Rivers
Rivers is a speedy wideout who led Conference USA in receptions, yards and touchdowns at Florida International in 2024. He stepped up in class, playing in the ACC last season, but still averaged 14.3 yards per reception. At 5-10, 176 pounds, he fits the mold of small-ish Chiefs wide receivers.
