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There are some truisms when it comes to NFL mock drafts.
First, you could fill a good part of each day reading them. Second, the pundits making those picks rarely agree.
But the exception that proves the rule about the latter came Wednesday when ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and former ESPN writer Todd McShay shared their mock drafts.
They both agree on what players the Chiefs will select with their two first-round
picks in next week’s draft in Pittsburgh. And, surprisingly, those picks aligned with another ESPN analyst, Peter Schrager, whose mock draft came out last week.
All three see the Chiefs making these picks:
No. 9: Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson
No. 29: Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood
Chiefs NFL Draft scenarios: 5 paths, including trades, that could make sense | The Athletic
Scenario 2: Take the receiver you like
How it could turn out
First round, No. 9: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
First round, No. 29: Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker
It doesn’t take long when cycling through potential mock drafts to get one in which the Chiefs would have all of this year’s receiver prospects available.
No one really knows what’s going to happen on draft night, and the Chiefs having the chance to take any wideout they want in a draft seems like something that might not happen again in the Mahomes era.
So here we’ll go with the top consensus guy in Ohio State’s Carnell Tate. The Chiefs have never been afraid to trust in their own scouting evaluations, though, so USC’s Makai Lemon or Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson certainly could be in play as well.
Take Tate first, and the Chiefs could circle to defense with their next pick. In this mock, Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker is available and would add a good-sized, high-motor edge rusher to the rotation.
Texas A&M RB Le’Veon Moss
The Chiefs have done a lot to improve their running back room in 2026 NFL free agency with the additions of Kenneth Walker and Emari Demercado. They’re still lacking two specific skill sets, and I’m not sure there are many backs who encompass both. They need a physical short-yardage running back and someone who excels in pass protection. Le’Veon Moss fits the bill for what the team likes at 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds. He also has three-down potential down the line.
Moss graded out with his best season in pass protection in 2025, and he definitely brings the physicality in the run game. He’s really talented on inside zone runs, counters, and running with a lead blocker. The problem? He hasn’t finished a season in his collegiate career without injury. The Chiefs would have to feel comfortable with his injury history. If that comes back clear, I could see them targeting Moss with one of their first two picks in Round 5. Moss is No. 206 on the consensus board.
Around the NFL
Raiders’ Spytek says teams have inquired about No. 1 draft pick | ESPN
The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to keep the first pick and take quarterback Fernando Mendoza during the 2026 NFL draft, but that hasn’t stopped teams from calling general manager John Spytek about the possibility of trading the top choice.
“We’ve gotten a few calls, and those teams know where they stand,” Spytek said at Tuesday’s predraft news conference.
Spytek has always been open-minded about trade offers. He mentioned that good ones can materialize on draft night if a team waits a few moments before making a selection.
But if team leaders are convinced about a player, he said, they will maintain their draft spot.
“If there’s a player that stands out that we feel it’s not worth losing, it’s not worth even picking up the phone, then we’ll just make the pick,” Spytek said. “But if it’s a player that we’re not as excited about, or there’s a group of players that we would love to pick from, and we can get value for that, we’re certainly open to listening to that.”
“He is not available for trade,” Sullivan said. “Things are going good. We’ve have some positive conversations over the last couple days. Trending in the right direction. He’s obviously very important to what we’re doing. It’s all part of it. It’s part of professional sports. We’ll get where we need to be one way or another, but yeah, things are trending in the right direction.”
Achane, who did not report to Miami’s voluntary offseason program ahead of the final season of his rookie contract, rushed for 1,350 yards with eight touchdowns on 238 carries over 16 games last season, leading the NFL with 5.7 yards per rush. The dual-threat back added 67 catches for 488 yards and four additional scores.
The 2023 third-round pick is a game-breaker who can hit the hole and blast past defenders. His speed allows the offense to be versatile and consistently bring defenses headaches. Miami views Achane as the ideal pairing with quarterback Malik Willis in Bobby Slowik’s offense.
NFL begins “onboarding” replacement officials | Pro Football Talk
The curtain is closer to rising on Fail Mary 2.
Via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the league informed teams on Wednesday that the officiating staff has started “onboarding” potential replacement officials. Training sessions continue to be planned for next month.
As PFT reported on April 2, the NFL plans an introductory session for May 1 to 3.
Per NFL Network, several officials have completed background checks and will soon undergo physical exams.
The development comes a week after the NFL and NFL Referees Association engaged in a bargaining session that featured owners, including Jerry Jones.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs Draft Darlings: Notre Dame TE Eli Raridon could be best of class
Why Raridon fits with the Chiefs
Raridon likely won’t be relied on to play in-line as a rookie, so that could be a tricky fit for 2026. However, he would have a role as a rookie. Raridon has more speed downfield than Kelce has now, so Raridon could help stretch the seams to clear space for the All-Time tight end underneath.
Raridon, as a prospect, is a significantly better blocker than tight end Noah Gray is; he may be an immediate upgrade over the veteran, even if it could be a tough fit positionally.
In the short-term, Raridon could be an upgraded version of Gray’s role and give the Chiefs more verticality from the tight ends. With more development, he could be the future tight end beyond Kelce.
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