In our Chiefs mock NFL Draft 5.0, KC considers some trades. How one might unfold
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The Star’s 2026 mock draft projects the Chiefs making two first‑round trades.
- Chiefs would keep nine total picks and five selections in first three rounds.
- Mock assigns Kansas City selections including TE Kenyon Sadiq and EDGE Keldric Faulk.
In The Star’s latest mock NFL Draft for 2026, beat writers Pete Sweeney and Blair Kerkhoff present the possibility of some draft day trades.
There are two in the first round of this week’s penultimate pre-draft projection, one moving in each direction. The Chiefs drop back in the picking order with the first hypothetical trade ... then move ahead in the order in the second.
For the Chiefs, the number of picks they’d make remains the same: nine. But with these draft-day swaps, the Chiefs would have five total picks in the first three rounds.
The real three-day NFL Draft begins next Thursday, April 23, in Pittsburgh. The annual selection process runs through Saturday, April 25.
Here’s how The Star’s mock draft 5.0 shakes out:
Round 1, Pick No. 13 (traded No. 9 pick to Rams for Nos. 13, 93 & 5th-rounder in ‘27): Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq
In this scenario, the draft plays out like this: The New York Jets select Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey at No. 2, the Arizona Cardinals grab Ohio State pass rusher Arvell Reese at No. 3, the Washington Commanders take Miami pass rusher Rueben Bain at No. 7 and the New Orleans Saints nab Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson at No. 8.
There’s the possibility in this circumstance that every target with an elite grade has been wiped from the Chiefs’ board.
But the phone’s ringing, and it’s the Los Angeles Rams, who want to add linebacker Sonny Styles. General manager Brett Veach agrees to fall back to No. 13 in exchange for the No. 93 pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
With Travis Kelce entering what’s widely believed to be his swan-song season, the Chiefs take a one-for-one replacement with the Rams’ pick at No. 13: Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq.
Much like a young Kelce, Sadiq offers Patrick Mahomes a big, reliable target who can produce yards after the catch and score. In 2025, Sadiq led all FBS tight ends with eight receiving touchdowns.
Mock draft 1.0: LSU CB Mansoor Delane
Mock draft 2.0: Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr.
Mock draft 3.0: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate.
Mock draft 4.0: Jordyn Tyson WR Arizona State
Round 1, Pick No. 26 (traded No. 29 to Bills for Nos. 26, 109): Auburn edge Keldric Faulk
After an uncommon trade-down to begin this draft, Veach restores natural order by trading up three spots with a familiar draft-day trading partner in the Buffalo Bills.
The San Francisco 49ers, who pick behind the Bills at No. 27, also need a pass rusher, so Veach sends Buffalo his fourth-rounder at No. 109 to get in front of them.
With the No. 26 overall pick, the Chiefs select Auburn pass rusher Keldric Faulk. While not nearly as productive as the upper echelon of pass rushers in the top 10, Faulk — listed at 6-foot-6 and 276 pounds with a 34 3/8-inch arm length — profiles as the typical edge player Steve Spagnuolo favors.
As the league continues to trend run-friendly, Faulk can set the edge in the run game and comes with inside-outside versatility. The fact that he won’t turn 21 until September means he still has time to grow as a pass rusher under the tutelage of line coach Joe Cullen and such Chiefs veterans as George Karlaftis and Chris Jones.
Mock draft 1.0: Missouri edge Zion Young
Mock draft 2:0: Tennessee CB Colton Hood
Mock draft 3.0: Clemson edge TJ Parker
Mock draft 4.0: Avieon Terrell CB Clemson
Round 2, Pick 40: San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson
San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson reportedly met with Kansas City last month ... and when you explore the player, you understand why.
At 6-foot, 193 pounds, Johnson is about average in size for a cornerback. But his traits fit Spagnuolo’s mold to a T. He’s speedy (registered a 4.40-second 40) and has the capability of sticking with pass-catchers through their entire route. He played most of his collegiate snaps outside but saw a handful inside.
When targeting Johnson in 2025, opposing quarterbacks saw an average passer rating of 16.1, according to PFF. He had four interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns.
Mock draft 1.0: Washington WR Denzel Boston
Mock draft 2.0: Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II
Mock draft. 3.0: South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse
Mock draft. 4.0: UCF edge Malachi Lawrence
Round 3, Pick 74: Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt
After three picks in which the Chiefs addressed two of their top three needs (edge, corner), they turn their attention to the third need with the No. 74 overall selection.
At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt would join Sadiq as another strapping target for Mahomes. While Sarratt doesn’t possess the speed at receiver the Chiefs have sought in recent drafts, he made a habit of pulling in contested catches throughout his collegiate career.
In 2025, the national champion caught 65 passes for 830 yards and a nation-leading 15 receiving touchdowns.
Mock draft 1.0: Georgia CB Daylen Everette
Mock draft 2.0: Ohio State TE Max Klare
Mock draft 3.0: Oklahoma DT Gracen Halton.
Mock draft 4.0: Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter
Round 3, Pick 93 (from Rams): Iowa State defensive tackle Domonique Orange
Note: In our previous four mock drafts, this pick was No. 109 overall.
Acquiring a second third-round pick allows the Chiefs to consider players ranked closer to the top of their position group.
The Chiefs would feel fortunate if Orange dropped to them at this spot. They’d be getting a Kansas Citian — North Kansas City High — who played 50 games over his Iowa State career. Orange, known as “Big Citrus,” is athletic for his 6-2, 325-pound frame.
Mock draft 1.0: Baylor TE Michael Trigg
Mock draft 2.0: Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher
Mock draft 3.0: Texas A&M OT Dametrious Crownover
Mock draft 4.0: Stanford TE Sam Roush
Round 5, Pick 148: Illinois tackle JC Davis
A first-team All-Big Ten selection for the Illini, Davis started 49 games over his college career — the first seasons at New Mexico after a year in junior college, the next two at Illinois. He allowed one sack in three of his 25 starts over the past two seasons.
The Chiefs are likely to draft a tackle. Josh Simmons and Jaylon Moore are slated to start and Wanya Morris and Esa Pole will be the top reserves. Moore is in the second season of his two-year deal, and the Chiefs can begin to look beyond the 2026 season by taking a tackle here.
Mock draft 1.0: Wake Forest RB Demond Claiborne
Mock draft 2.0: Florida OT Austin Barber
Mock draft 3.0: Kansas State S VJ Payne
Mock draft 4.0: Texas A&M RB Le’Veon Moss
Round 5, Pick 169: Arizona State linebacker Keyshaun Elliott
Elliott was a three-sport star at Richmond (Mo.) High and started his college career at New Mexico State, where he became a tackle machine at linebacker. With the Sun Devils, he recorded eight tackles against Texas in the Peach Bowl during his first year and earned second-team All-Big 12 last season. He could become a special teams star for the Chiefs.
Mock draft 1.0: Miami S Jakobe Thomas
Mock draft 2.0: North Carolina CB Thaddeus Dixon
Mock draft 3.0: Indiana RB Kaelon Black
Mock draft 4.0: Stephen F. Austin CB Charles Demmings
Round 5, Pick 176: Oregon cornerback Jadon Canady
After a well-traveled college career that took him to Tulane, Ole Miss and finally Oregon, Canady figures to be a slot corner in the NFL and a nice third-day pickup.
He recorded two interceptions and six pass breakups for the Ducks as a nickel last season. His 5-11, 185-pound build is average for the position, but he brings athleticism and a high football IQ.
Mock draft 1.0: Penn State OT Drew Shelton
Mock draft 2.0: Notre Dame S Jalen Stroman
Mock draft 3.0: LSU LB Harold Perkins Jr.
Mock draft 4.0: Penn State OT Nolan Rucci
Round 6, Pick 210: Virginia running back J’Mari Taylor
Taylor spent his first four college seasons at North Carolina Central and was a Walter Payton Award finalist (tops in FCS) after rushing for 1,146 yards and 15 touchdowns in year four.
He transferred to Virginia and didn’t lose a step while moving up in class. He was first-team All-ACC with 1,062 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. He would add running back depth and play on special teams.
Mock draft 1.0: Georgia Tech WR Eric Rivers
Mock draft 2.0: John Carroll WR Tyren Montgomery
Mock draft 3.0: Navy WR Eli Heidenreich
Mock draft 4.0: Texas A&M LB Taurean York.