Could Chiefs select a receiver at No. 9 in NFL Draft? In our mock 3.0, they do
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chiefs consider receiver, edge rusher or defensive back with No. 9 pick.
- Ohio State’s Carnell Tate could replace or complement Rashee Rice.
- Day 2 target likely cornerback after McDuffie and Watson departures.
In a recent interview at the NFL’s annual meeting, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach was candid in outlining the positions that Kansas City is considering with its first top-10 NFL Draft pick since 2013: receiver, edge rusher or defensive back.
In The Star’s first mock draft, we went the defensive back route. In mock 2.0, we chose an edge rusher.
But what if Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate — who many consider one of the best receivers in the draft — falls to the Chiefs at No. 9?
Another question: What if LSU cornerback and Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr. — the Chiefs’ first selections in previous two mock drafts — were also available?
Here’s The Star’s Chiefs mock draft 3.0 by beat writers Pete Sweeney and Blair Kerkhoff:
Round 1, Pick 9: Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate
At 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds, the sure-handed Tate could provide Kansas City with another weapon for the returning Patrick Mahomes. At Ohio State, Tate aligned mostly outside but took some snaps in the slot, and he’s already a consistent route runner.
With Rashee Rice entering the final year of his rookie deal, Tate proving worthy of a top-10 pick in 2026 could give the Chiefs options if they choose not to re-sign Rice.
Mock draft 1.0: LSU CB Mansoor Delane.
Mock draft 2.0: Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr.
Round 1, Pick 29: Clemson edge TJ Parker
With some of the top edge rushers in this class a bit undersized for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s liking, it’s fair to wonder if the Chiefs wait until their second first-round pick to address that need.
Like Missouri edge Zion Young (our pick at this spot in the first mock), Clemson’s TJ Parker is a big-bodied pass rusher who helped himself at this year’s Senior Bowl.
Parker’s most productive season came when he was a sophomore in 2024 (11.0 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss), but his Senior Bowl performance eased some concerns after his production dipped in 2025 (5.0 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss).
Mock draft 1.0: Missouri edge Zion Young.
Mock draft 2.0: Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood
Round 2, Pick 40: South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse
The Chiefs need to add to their cornerback room following the departures of both Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to the Los Angeles Rams. If they go wide receiver and pass rusher on Day 1, expect them to address cornerback with their first pick on Day 2. At 6-foot and 189 pounds, South Carolina’s Brandon Cisse profiles as a well-sized defensive back for Spagnuolo’s system — especially considering his elite 41-inch vertical jump at the NFL Scouting Combine. A hamstring injury kept him from running the 40 at the combine, but he clocked a 4.40 at his pro day.
Cisse isn’t widely viewed as being as polished as the first-round cornerbacks, but KC could hand him to defensive backs coach Dave Merritt, then set it and forget it.
Mock draft 1.0: Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston.
Mock draft 1.0: Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell
Round 3, Pick 74: Oklahoma defensive tackle Gracen Halton
Kansas City solved its nose tackle need by signing Khyiris Tonga in free agency, but it could still add an interior defensive lineman with some pass-rush juice to the mix.
Second-year defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott could be back for training camp after missing roughly half of the 2025 season due to injury, but we know Spagnuolo and defensive line coach Joe Cullen love to rotate these guys, anyway.
Halton is unlikely to play on first down right away, but he could serve as an early disruptor on passing downs. Over four seasons at Oklahoma, he totaled 8.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss.
Mock draft 1.0: Georgia cornerback Daylen Everette
Mock draft 2.0: Ohio State tight end Max Klare
Round 4, Pick 109: Texas A&M tackle Dametrious Crownover
Crownover converted from tight end to tackle, so the athleticism is there.
He’s huge, at 6-7, 319, and could eventually become a starter. The Chiefs have selected an offensive lineman in each of the past five drafts with different degrees of success. Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith came from the 2021 draft. It’s been hit and miss since with Darian Kinnard, Wayna Morris, C.J. Hanson, Hunter Nourzad, Kingsley Suamataia and Josh Simmons.
Mock draft 1.0: Baylor tight end Michael Trigg
Mock draft 2.0: Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher
Round 5, Pick 148: Kansas State safety VJ Payne
A two-time honorable mention All-Big 12 pick, Payne has the physical tools to make it at the next level. He’s 6-3, 206 with a 33-inch arm length.
Payne played in 52 games for the Wildcats with 42 starts. He was the fastest player on the K-State roster last season and was timed at 4.40 in the 40 at the NFL Combine.
Mock draft 1.0: Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne
Mock draft 2.0: Florida offensive tackle Austin Barber
Round 5, Pick 169: Indiana running back Kaelon Black
Black split carries in the Hoosiers’ productive backfield, leading the national champions with 10 rushing touchdowns.
He averaged 5.6 yards per carry and rushed for 79 yards in Indiana’s CFP Championship Game victory over Miami, including a key 20-yard gain on a third-and-7 to extend a touchdown drive. Black started his college career at James Madison and made the move to the Hoosiers when Curt Cignetti became Indiana’s head coach.
Mock draft 1.0: Miami, Fla., safety Jakobe Thomas.
Mock draft 2.0: North Carolina cornerback Thaddeus Dixon
Round 5, Pick 176: LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr.
Remember Perkins as a freshman in 2022? He was terrific and looked like a budding All-America.
But a torn ACL in 2024 slowed his progress, and now he looks to join an NFL team that could use his speed and ball skills. He ran a 4.38 40 at the LSU Pro Day.
The Chiefs re-signed Jack Cochrane last week but remain down at the position with Leo Chenal moving on to the Commanders.
Mock draft 1.0: Penn State offensive tackle Drew Shelton
Mock draft 2.0: Notre Dame safety Jalen Stroman
Round 6, Pick 210: Navy slot receiver Eli Heidenreich
Heidenreich is listed as a slot receiver/running back. He’s been Navy’s leading receiver for the past three years and he caught the game-winning touchdown pass against Army last season.
He’s the program record-holder in receiving yards. And it’s pretty easy to envision him in a possession-receiver role in the NFL, too.
Mock draft 1.0: Georgia Tech wide receiver Eric Rivers
Mock draft 2.0: John Carroll wide receiver Tyren Montgomery