The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2026 NFL Draft guide is here to get you ready for the upcoming annual seven-round selection meeting. And the Chiefs will need to hit on some sleepers.
Ahead of this crucial week, let’s look at the Chiefs’ draft picks, their biggest needs, potential targets, and recent draft history. The draft is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this year, with the Round 1 kicking off on April 23. Rounds 2 and 3 happen on April 24. The festivities wrap up with Rounds 4-7 on April 25.
Chiefs’ 2026 NFL Draft picks
The Chiefs have a pair of first-round picks, giving head coach Andy Reid and company more draft power than they’ve had in many years. It’s critical that they hit on both of those picks in order to get back toward the top of the NFL heap.
Round 1, Pick 9
Round 1, Pick 29
Round 2, Pick 40
Round 3, Pick 74
Round 4, Pick 109
Round 5, Pick 148
Round 5, Pick 169
Round 5, Pick 176
Round 6, Pick 210
Chiefs’ 2026 NFL Draft needs and targets
EDGE: Whether the Chiefs go after a player at this position depends on two things. Will the top guys be off the board? Or will the Chiefs be willing to trade up to secure one of the standouts?
It starts with Rueben Bain Jr. The Chiefs have reportedly had their eyes on him. But will Bain come off the board before the Chiefs even have a reasonable chance to trade up?
Bain would be a great fit for the Chiefs, who don’t have a top-notch pass rusher opposite George Karlaftis. Bain has been downgraded by some teams because he doesn’t fit perfectly as an NFL specimen, according to NFL Draft Buzz.
“The positional conversation around Bain will carry through April because his body type does not fit a single box,” NFL Draft Buzz wrote. “At around 265 pounds with sub-31-inch arms, he is undersized for a traditional edge alignment but too explosive to move inside full-time. The best answer is probably a hybrid role where he lines up on the edge as his base but kicks inside against guards on obvious passing downs.
“The arm length is going to show up in certain matchups. Long, athletic tackles at the NFL level will keep him at distance in ways college tackles could not. That is a real concern.”
But the college film screams that the concerns won’t keep him from being a star.
Another direction the Chiefs could go at No. 9 is David Bailey, if the Texas Tech product filters down to them. Ohio State’s Arvell Reese should be off the board, but he could make the Chiefs struggle with a decision if all three of the aforementioned players are still available — which is extremely unlikely.
WR: This makes the most sense. With Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, the Chiefs have a pair of solid receivers. But adding a third above-average for Patrick Mahomes might do wonders for the Chiefs’ offense in 2026.
The easy choice would be Carnell Tate. But he figures to be off the board. That means the Chiefs would likely choose between Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, and USC’s Makai Lemon. And Tyson should be the one. He elevated his draft stock quite a bit last season, according to NFL.com.
“Learning from Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward helped unlock Tyson’s production and elevated his draft stock,” Lance Zierlein wrote. “He’s added size and improved his route running over the last two years, showing he can align at all three receiver spots. He occasionally rushes the route but has the short-area quickness and contested-catch toughness to find chain-moving grabs in high-leverage moments. He’s not a blazer but has enough speed to work down the field. Also, he has the ball skills and body control to win above the rim with timing on 50/50 throws.”
DT: This is where the Chiefs could go with their second first-round pick. If they go receiver at No. 9, it’s unlikely they will find an edge rusher that moves the needle at No. 29.
So this is where they could look at a guy like Peter Woods of Clemson. He has the ceiling to be a plus starter, according to NFL.com.
“Woods is a young interior defender with room to add play strength as he fills out his frame,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s not a pure one- or two-gap fit, but he’s capable in both schemes. He plays with good lower-body explosiveness into initial contact, keeping his hands and feet synced to work around blocks when needed. He’s more of an active brawler than a double-team eating tree stump. Shorter arms allow blockers to crowd his frame and force him to fight harder at the point. Yet, his ability to overtake and win as the rep progresses is impressive.”
Don’t look for sacks, but he can contribute to the cause by creating pressure and opening up lanes for others.
Recent draft history — top picks for the last five years
2025: OL Josh Simmons, Ohio State (Round 1, pick 32)
2024: WR Xavier Worthy, Texas (Round 1, 28)
2023: DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State (Round 1, 31)
2022: CB Trent McDuffie, Washington (Round 1, 21)
2021: LB Nick Bolton, Missouri (Round 2, 58)
The crown jewel was McDuffie, who turned in an All-Pro season in 2023 and added a second-team All-Pro selection in 2024. He dropped off last year and now plays for the Rams.
Bolton has turned into a reliable player in the middle of the Chiefs’ defense. He made 33 starts over the last two seasons and totaled 154 tackles last year.
The jury is still out on Simmons, who appeared in only eight games as he worked his way into the mix after a college injury.
Worthy had a disappointing season in his second year, but still has a strong upside.
Anudike-Uzomah hasn’t worked out the way the Chiefs hoped. He didn’t do much in his first two years, and then missed all of 2025 with a hamstring injury.
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