KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs hold the ninth and 29th picks in the 2026 NFL Draft after shipping star cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams. They lost Jaylen Watson in free agency too. The secondary sits thin, the offensive line showed cracks last season, and the pass rush needs fresh legs if Patrick Mahomes wants another shot at the top of the AFC.
Secondary and Trenches Take Center Stage
Experts across the board see the Chiefs attacking defense early. Tim Crean of ClutchPoints and Todd McShay of The Ringer both lock in CB Mansoor Delane from LSU at No. 9. Delane shines in man and zone coverage. He slots perfectly into Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme and gives the Chiefs a shutdown corner right away.
Daniel Jeremiah at NFL.com eyes offensive line help with OL Spencer Fano from Utah. Jawaan Taylor struggled at right tackle all of 2025 with penalties and shaky pass protection. Fano, a natural right tackle, steps in as a starter and shores up the pocket for Mahomes.
Charles Davis and Mel Kiper Jr. highlight EDGE Reuben Bain Jr. from Miami as the most NFL-ready pass rusher available. George Karlaftis and Chris Jones still produce, but the duo carried too much weight last year. Bain Jr.’s explosion off the edge forces offenses to account for him every snap.
Bleacher Report and Field Yates of ESPN like WR Jordyn Tyson from Arizona State later in the first round. Rashee Rice holds his own, but Travis Kelce ages another year and Xavier Worthy stays inconsistent. Tyson stretches the field and creates big-play shots Mahomes can exploit.
Bucky Brooks at NFL.com points to OT Francis Mauigoa from Miami as another trench option. His aggressive pass blocking and strong anchor handle the elite rushers the Chiefs face weekly in the AFC West.
Other names surface fast. Tim Crean likes EDGE Zion Young from Missouri at No. 29. Daniel Jeremiah and Charles Davis tab CB Colton Hood from Tennessee as a complete corner who thrives in run support and coverage. Todd McShay sees value in EDGE Gabe Jacas from Illinois, a power rusher who wears down blockers. Bleacher Report floats EDGE TJ Parker from Clemson, Field Yates pushes EDGE Cashius Howell from Texas A&M, and Bucky Brooks eyes TE Kenyon Sadiq from Oregon as Kelce’s long-term successor. Mel Kiper Jr. likes the athletic upside of CB Brandon Cisse from South Carolina.
“I’ve been in positions as a head coach where we have to replenish the secondary. I’ve been through that and seen it be productive. Do you want to lose a Trent McDuffie? No, but that’s today’s football.” — Andy Reid, Chiefs Head Coach
Playoff Implications and What Comes Next
These early picks decide how far the Chiefs push in January. Delane or Hood at corner immediately upgrades coverage and lets Spagnuolo mix coverages without fear. An edge rusher like Bain Jr. or Young creates the pressure that forces turnovers and short fields for Mahomes. Fano or Mauigoa at tackle cuts down the hits Mahomes took last year and buys him the extra half-second he turns into magic.
The Chiefs already added Kenneth Walker III in free agency and kept Kelce on a short-term deal. A draft haul that nails two or three of these defensive pieces turns a good roster into a true contender again. Training camp battles will sort the depth, but the first two rounds set the tone. Arrowhead Stadium felt the tension all offseason after the McDuffie trade. Fans packed local spots debating these exact names. One thing stays clear: Brett Veach and the front office know they must hit on these selections to keep the window wide open for Mahomes.
