The 2026 NFL Draft is almost here, and while the Las Vegas Raiders will be the ones kicking things off at No. 1, a lot of eyes are also on the Kansas City Chiefs this year.
That feels strange to say since this is the first time the Chiefs have picked in the top 10 since 2017 (when they drafted a certain QB named Patrick Mahomes at No. 10). The 2025 season just never really clicked the way it has in years past. Injuries piled up, the roster felt thinner than usual, and for once it didn’t feel like wins were inevitable.
Kansas City won just six games, missed the playoffs, and holds the No. 9 pick as a result. But as if that wasn’t interesting enough, they also acquired the No. 29 pick in the first round as part of the blockbuster Trent McDuffie trade with the Los Angeles Rams. The Chiefs have some real turnover and holes to fill, and suddenly this draft matters a lot more than it normally would in Kansas City.
Using the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator, here’s a look at how the Chiefs could approach their nine picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Round 1, Pick 9: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Losing McDuffie leaves a pretty obvious hole, so going corner early just makes sense. Mansoor Delane feels like one of those guys who’s been climbing for a while now and is just firmly in that top-tier conversation.
He transferred to LSU, didn’t take long to adjust, and quickly emerged as the best cornerback in the country in PFSN’s CB Impact metric with a 97.0 grade.
What stands out more than the numbers, though, is how comfortable he looks. He’s not guessing or panicking, just playing under control and trusting his ability. That’s usually a good sign for guys coming into the league.
There’s a real chance that he’s gone before this pick, honestly. But if he somehow makes it here, it solves a problem right away and gives them a cheap, high-upside replacement at a premium position.
Round 1, Pick 29 (via Rams): Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
This is the kind of pick that gets called a reach for about five minutes until people actually look into it.
Malachi Lawrence has been everywhere during the pre-draft process… in a good way. Testing numbers are crazy for his size, but it’s not just that. You turn on the tape, and he’s actually winning reps, not just flashing traits.
He fits what the Chiefs like to do up front, too. Hand in the dirt, physical, but still explosive enough to get around the edge. And with 7 sacks and 11 tackles for a loss last season, it’s not like the production is missing.
Honestly, this feels like one of those picks where people will look back in a year and wonder why he didn’t get picked earlier.
Round 2, Pick 40: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
If you watched the NFL Combine, you already know Eli Stowers turned heads. But his tape backs up the hype. He was basically Vanderbilt’s entire passing offense at times, and he ended up leading all tight ends in receiving yards and finishing second in receptions in 2025. His 85.1 TE Impact grade was the second-highest in the nation.
The interesting part is how he’d be used in Kansas City. There’s still some debate about whether he’s a true tight end or more of a big wide receiver, but that’s probably exactly why Andy Reid would love him. With Travis Kelce nearing the end of his NFL career, this feels like a perfect “figure-it-out-later-and-just-get-the-talent-now” type of pick.
This is the dream landing spot for Stowers, as Kelce, Reid, and Mahomes can help him maximize his potential.
Round 3, Pick 74: Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa
Going to Iowa for offensive line help is almost always a safe bet. Gennings Dunker has the size (6-foot-5, 315) and the play style you want on the right side, especially with Mahomes coming off an injury.
Dunker has a mean streak that will show up in the run game and enough nimbleness on his feet to dominate in the pass game.
Kansas City has to get back to protecting its quarterback better, and this also ties into improving the run game. Bringing in a physical lineman like this helps stabilize both.
Round 4, Pick 109: Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
Even after adding Stowers, wide receiver still feels like a need. Injuries to Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice last season exposed how thin things can get.
Bryce Lance is an intriguing swing here. The 6-foot-3 receiver ran a 4.34 40-yard dash, which ranked in the 94th percentile all-time, so he’s got that size-speed combination that immediately stands out. On top of that, the production is hard to ignore.
Lance looks and plays very similar to former Bison alumnus Christian Watson, who’s been dominating with the Green Bay Packers when he’s on the field.
Lance boasts elite yards per route, a strong catch rate over expectation, and big run-after-catch ability when diving into the advanced stats, according to PFSN’s scouting report. He’s not a finished product, but this is the kind of upside pick that can really pay off.
Round 5, Pick 148: Bud Clark, S, TCU
The secondary overhaul continues. Bud Clark has been steadily climbing boards, and it’s easy to see why once you watch him.
He’s long, fluid, and moves well in coverage, especially in split-field looks. At 6-foot-2, he also brings some physicality that can play well in the box while still displaying enough fluidity in coverage to be an asset.
After losing multiple key pieces in the defensive backfield this offseason, adding someone like Clark in the middle rounds feels like smart business. The Chiefs will be glad they did.
Round 5, Pick 169 (via Rams): Red Murdock, LB, Buffalo
This is where you start betting on production and instincts over pure traits, and on value whenever you can get it. Red Murdock’s numbers jump off the page from the tackles to the tackles for a loss to the forced fumbles, you name it.
There are real questions about his athletic ceiling, and that’s probably why he’s still available here. Players like Murdock are where front offices overthink the player and later regret it. In the fifth round, that’s a gamble worth taking, and he has possible starter potential in his future.
Round 5, Pick 176: Adam Randall, RB, Clemson
The Chiefs quietly need more depth at running back. Behind Kenneth Walker III, the room feels a little one-dimensional with a pair of smaller third-down, pass-catching backs in Emari Demercado and Brashard Smith.
Adam Randall is interesting because he’s still relatively new to the position after switching from receiver, but you can see the potential. He’s big, physical, and already productive, breaking 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his first real season at running back. He’d give the Chiefs a different dynamic as a 6-foot-3, 232-pound bruiser between the tackles.
There’s still development needed, but the tools he displays are right up Reid’s alley, and this could be the perfect place for him maximize his skill set and realize his full potential.
Round 6, Pick 210 (via Rams): Mark Gronowski, QB, Iowa
This is more about insurance than anything else. Mahomes is coming off an injury, and while Justin Fields is in the mix, the Chiefs can’t solely rely on him to fill in for Mahomes after some rocky stops over the last few seasons.
Mark Gronowski isn’t flashy, but he’s a winner. The NFL loves winners, and players like the former Hawkeye standout will always have a place in the league if he continues to show what he did in college.
He’s been productive everywhere he’s been, showed well during the pre-draft process, and even picked up Shrine Bowl MVP honors. For a late-round flier quarterback, this is all you can ask for, and he can push Fields in camp if Mahomes isn’t ready yet.
