Three things that would make this Chiefs draft class a success
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- A Chiefs roster of 104 players marks an increase of 11 from last year.
- More than 100 players wore Chiefs jerseys together on the practice field.
- The article narrows its focus to seven specific players for draft success.
They gathered on the practice field over the weekend, more than 100 players wearing Chiefs jerseys for the first time.
It’s 104 on the roster, to be exact, or 11 more than a year ago.
But the focus here is on seven.
The Chiefs’ 2026 draft class has arrived in Kansas City, the most anticipated group since the one that included a certain quarterback of the future — or perhaps the most necessary.
After the combination of a 6-11 season and the departure of several key players, the Chiefs’ future rides on this class comprising a success.
What would qualify it as one?
A reply, in three parts:
1. Mansoor Delane is a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback
The word caliber is an important part of the declaration because it’s about consistent top-end performance, not a lone selection to the game itself.
Delane is the head of the draft class, and the highest draft pick the Chiefs had since 2013 when they were picking first overall. But the requirement that he develops into a No. 1 corner — one that doesn’t need help on the outside — is magnified by what it cost the Chiefs to trade up to acquire him.
They had to relinquish a third- and fifth-round pick to move up three spots to ensure they could select Delane in front of the Commanders and Saints. (It’s the Saints who their analytics team judged were a real hurdle.)
The Chiefs were one of nine teams not to exercise the fifth-year option of their 2023 first-round pick, Felix Anudike-Uzomah. The Delane story arc has to include a second contract when he ages out of his rookie agreement. He has to be good enough to be part of the immediate fix and the long-term solution.
That’s not to say his rookie year won’t include a learning curve. That position often includes a tough indoctrination. But the curve needs to trend upward.
2. They pressure the quarterback with four
The Chiefs spent two top-40 picks on defensive linemen who are best known for their pass-rush skills: Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods at No. 29 and Oklahoma edge R Mason Thomas at No. 40.
They have to make the quarterback more uncomfortable this season. But it shouldn’t require bringing the house on every obvious passing down — not when you allocate these kinds of resources.
The Chiefs have been unable to generate pressure without blitzing for a half-decade, instead relying on Steve Spagnuolo’s creativity in designing blitzes to get in the backfield. But even those blitzes didn’t get home a year ago — the Chiefs generated pressure on only 39.8% of their blitzes, per Next Gen Stats, which ranked 22nd in the league.
Those blitzes will only grow more difficult early this season. Why? The Chiefs rely on their advanced knowledge of Spagnuolo’s scheme to later layer onto it. They lost several veterans, including five starters, with that advanced knowledge and will have to be patient as they work in a new group. It’s within the realm of possibility the Chiefs have six new starters, including five who weren’t in the building.
3. They have the freedom to spend on the offense next offseason
The Chiefs didn’t ignore the offense this offseason. After all, Kenneth Walker is now one of the five richest running backs in football. That’s an investment.
But they put a heck of a lot more resources — namely, draft capital — into the defense than a Patrick Mahomes-led unit that has ranked in the middle of the pack in scoring.
How would we look back on that as the right path?
Well, if they don’t have to spend capital — financial or draft — on the defense a year from now.
The Chiefs are heading into summer workouts thinner on pass catchers than they’d probably like, but the future of the position is in a far more precarious spot. Their top option, Rashee Rice, is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and tight end Travis Kelce is likely entering the final year of his career. They’ll also need to address right tackle next offseason.
They’ll have a lot of work to do on the offense, in other words, and much of that work comes at some premium positions.
If this draft class is a success and sets the foundation for the next wave of this defense, the Chiefs should have a lot of tools with which to work, too.
The defense should be set.
The offense should get the resources.