The Kansas City Chiefs’ draft strategy has become a major talking point following an eventful offseason. After addressing their backfield by signing Kenneth Walker III in free agency, many assumed the team would shift focus to other areas of need.
With Patrick Mahomes returning from an ACL injury and the offense looking to rediscover its rhythm, questions remain about how Kansas City will approach the 2026 NFL Draft. Now, one prominent analyst has opened the door to a surprising possibility involving one of the class’s top prospects.
Daniel Jeremiah Suggests Chiefs Could Still Draft Jeremiyah Love
During a discussion on “The Joel Klatt Show,” Joel Klatt questioned whether Kansas City would prioritize its defensive needs over adding another offensive weapon, especially after committing significant money to Walker. The Chiefs’ secondary remains an area of concern after the departures of Trent McDuffie, Bryan Cook, and Jaylen Watson, making it logical to expect a defensive selection early in the draft.
Despite that logic, NFL Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah introduced a different perspective, suggesting that if elite talent is available, Kansas City could pivot regardless of positional need.
“If Jeremiyah Love is there, I think all bets are off,” Jeremiah said. “I think it’s very possible.” Jeremiah expanded on that idea by explaining why adding Love could still make sense, even with Walker already in the fold.
“With Walker, it was him and [Zach] Charbonnet, that was a tag-team group there in Seattle,” Jeremiah added. “Look, obviously, you like to have more than one back, and it’s like, ‘Oh, this is electric.’ I can use him in so many different ways. I’ve got Mahomes coming off an injury, so we’re going to ease him back in. We brought Eric Bieniemy back to be the coordinator. We want to get this run game going.”
The draft analyst also highlighted Love’s versatility, particularly his ability to impact the passing game, which could unlock new dimensions in Kansas City’s offense.
“Now I’ve got two guys, and they are going to complement each other very well,” Jeremiah continued. “We can really get the run game going, and both these guys can catch the ball. Love is like a legit slot receiver, if you wanted to put him out there… and you can make a case he might be the best slot receiver in this draft.”
He further stressed that such a move would not be about depth alone, but about reshaping the offense to better support Mahomes as he returns from injury.
“Think about the creativity, the screen game, the fun coming back to the Kansas City offense, and the biggest point of all is just the Mahomes thing. Mahomes is coming off that injury, like let’s take the load off him a little bit.
Love’s solid profile supports that argument, as Notre Dame star is widely viewed as one of the most complete running backs in the class, combining vision, burst, and elite receiving ability.
He recorded 21 total touchdowns in 2025 and posted a 92.4 score in PFSN’s CFB RB Impact Metric, ranking among the best at his position. On the PFSN Consensus Big Board, Love carries a grade of 90.37 and ranks as the fourth overall prospect, and is expected to hear his name get called in the first round in the draft.
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Meanwhile, Kansas City’s offensive performance last season reflects the need for improvement. The Chiefs finished with a 6-11 record while posting a 74.3 OFFi score, placing them 17th in the league with a C grade on PFSN’s Offense Impact Metrics.
As the draft approaches, Kansas City faces a key decision between addressing immediate defensive concerns or adding another dynamic playmaker. If Love is available, the temptation to boost offensive creativity and ease Mahomes’ workload could prove too strong to ignore.
