KANSAS CITY, MO — The Kansas City Chiefs enter next month’s draft in Pittsburgh with nine total selections, including two first-round picks at No. 9 and No. 29. General Manager Brett Veach face-planted into a massive roster hole this week after officially trading star cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams. With Jaylen Watson also heading to the West Coast, Kansas City must find immediate contributors in the middle rounds to keep the secondary and pass rush elite.
If you want Cashius Howell but can’t afford the Round 1 price tag, look toward Kalamazoo. Nadame Tucker isn’t a household name yet, but his 14.5 sacks in 2025 tied for the most in the nation. Like Howell, Tucker is a pure speed merchant off the edge. He weighs in at 250 pounds and stands 6-foot-2, making him a lightning-fast sub-package nightmare for offensive tackles.
Tucker fell down draft boards after a mediocre 40-yard dash in Indianapolis, but his tape tells a different story. He dominated the MAC with a relentless motor and a bend that mimics the top-tier edge rushers in this class. While he struggles to set the edge against the run, his ability to get home on third down is exactly what Steve Spagnuolo craves in his rotation.
Kansas City has a “type” at cornerback: long, aggressive, and fearless in press coverage. Brandon Cisse of South Carolina fits that mold perfectly and will likely be a Day 1 selection. However, Andre Fuller is the discount version that could provide identical value. Fuller sat out the 2024 season with a sports hernia but roared back in 2025 to earn All-MAC honors.
At the 2026 Combine, Fuller clocked a 4.49-second 40-yard dash and posted a 10-foot-9 broad jump. He plays with a chip on his shoulder, often mirroring the physicality that made the McDuffie-Watson duo so effective. Toledo has become a legitimate factory for NFL defensive backs, and Fuller looks like the next sleeper ready to transition into a starter by November.
The Chiefs are always looking to evolve the offense, and Michael Trigg offers a unique “power-slot” dynamic. He draws frequent comparisons to Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers due to his massive 6-foot-4 frame and receiving versatility. Trigg hauled in 50 receptions for 694 yards and six touchdowns last season before an undisclosed injury cut his campaign short.
Trigg is a more natural in-line blocker than Stowers, though concentration drops have plagued his consistency. If Andy Reid can iron out the mental errors, Trigg becomes a matchup catastrophe for opposing linebackers. He provides a large catch radius and the secondary blocking ability that allows the Chiefs to stay in “11 personnel” while maintaining a physical edge in the run game.
“We lost some great players to the Rams, but the standard doesn’t change. We need guys who can step in and play Chiefs football from day one, regardless of where they were picked.”
— Brett Veach, Chiefs General Manager
The Chiefs will spend the next three weeks finalizing their big board before the draft kicks off on April 23. With two picks in the top 30, Veach has the capital to move up, but the depth of this class suggests the value lies in the middle rounds. Expect Kansas City to prioritize the defensive backfield and edge depth early on Friday and Saturday. The mission is simple: find the gems that allow this roster to stay young, cheap, and dangerous.
