With a top-10 pick and glaring needs, the Kansas City Chiefs face crucial decisions as the 2026 NFL Draft is two weeks away.
The Kansas City Chiefs are entering unfamiliar territory in the 2026 NFL Draft.
How is that so? Well, they are picking in the top-10 for the first time since they selected quarterback Patrick Mahomes out of Texas Tech.
The Chiefs landed another first-round pick by trading cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams, so they have plenty of assets to use after a flurry of departures in free agency, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
The Chiefs have plenty of positions to address, with edge, wide receiver and cornerback as the most pressing.
ESPN insiders Jordan Reid and Matt Miller gave some recent intel, along with Chiefs reporter Nate Taylor.
Taylor said the biggest position the Chiefs should address is the pass rush at No. 9, and that is a big area of need.
"Right now, the Chiefs don't have a starter on the edge opposite George Karlaftis. By targeting one of the top defensive linemen, the Chiefs could help take the burden off defensive tackle Chris Jones, who often has to beat two offensive linemen to pressure the opposing quarterback," Taylor wrote.
Miami Hurricanes star Rueben Bain Jr. is an easy target for the Chiefs at No. 9, although he could be gone by the time Kansas City is on the clock.
On the other hand, cornerback is another direction Kansas City could go in, and Miller named Tennessee Volunteers star Jermod McCoy as a name to watch in the first round.
Nonetheless, even Miller says nobody has any idea which direction Kansas City will go in, and a lot of it depends on how the first eight picks go in the first round.
"In talking to sources both in Kansas City and around the league, there seems to be no strong indicator of where the Chiefs will go with either of their first-round picks. The Chiefs will see how the board falls and have needs at core positions such as offensive tackle, wide receiver, edge rusher, defensive tackle and cornerback," Miller wrote.
For example, if Ohio State WR Carnell Tate falls to No. 9, or Ohio State safety Caleb Downs falls to No. 9, it would be very difficult to pass on either of those two superstars.
The good news is that the Chiefs have the No. 29 overall pick, so they can always address another area of need with that pick. Do they take the best player available at No. 9, regardless of team need? Or do they select a need to address and then double down by adding another position later in the round?
Right now, nobody knows, but the Chiefs should be a fascinating team to watch when the NFL Draft begins on April 23 in Pittsburgh.