The Kansas City Chiefs enter the 2026 NFL Draft in unfamiliar territory. Coming off the franchise’s first losing season since 2012, the Chiefs own a top-10 draft selection with nine picks in total. That’s the most Kansas City has had since the 2022 NFL Draft — a class that helped the team win two Super Bowls in consecutive seasons immediately.
With this bounty of picks, the Chiefs will have every opportunity to upgrade a roster that may need the most help of any roster in the Patrick Mahomes era.
Although talented, a glimpse at the Chiefs’ current lineup reveals holes and areas of improvement across the board that Kansas City will likely address in the draft.
Two position groups that could be the highest priorities for reinforcements are the offensive and defensive lines.
The offensive tackle position
Despite the offensive line being a position group the Chiefs have already heavily invested in through the draft, it remains a potential position of need entering 2026. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor was released, leaving the door open for offensive tackle Jaylon Moore to step in as the starter. This leaves a void for a backup offensive tackle or potential competition for Moore. The Chiefs are also young on the left side with last year’s first-round selection, Josh Simmons, slated to anchor the left tackle position.
Chiefs’ general manager Brett Veach was asked specifically about his thoughts on the offensive tackles in the draft class.
“There is certainly talent there,” Veach began. “Trying to project this draft, it looks like you have those five, six, seven, or eight names that everyone is kind of sharing across the board, and there’s a consensus.
“I do think that if they don’t creep into that first eight, nine, or ten slots,” Veach prefaced. “I think you’re going to get a massive run of offensive linemen from 10 to 20 or 25. I think there are numbers there, but once you get to pick 35, those numbers quickly diminish, and then there’s a big fall off. By 35, it could be slim pickings.”
Reading into Veach’s thought process, if the Chiefs view offensive tackle as a clear position of need in the draft, the front office will need to utilize one of the three picks in the top 40 to secure a player. It’s also possible the Chiefs either trade back from pick 9 to acquire extra picks, or up from pick 29 if there is a coveted offensive tackle Veach is expecting to go in the run on tackles from picks 10 to 25.
Veach continued his thoughts on the offensive tackle position in the draft.
“With the offensive linemen, there are traits that you like and some things that all these guys need to clean up and work on,” Veach explained. “But I think that the grades are so close that it will come down to the scheme fit and coaches’ analysis, the vision, the fit for these guys.”
If a tackle who fits the traits and vision for the Chiefs’ roster is available or within reach, a premium pick may be spent on the player.
The defensive line
The Chiefs have already bolstered their defensive line this offseason with the addition of nose tackle Khyiris Tonga in free agency. Despite this addition, the depth along the defensive line remains thin. It was also a position group that underperformed in 2025 and could make a big leap in 2026 with the right help.
Veach acknowledged this in his media remarks and gave specifics that the Chiefs may be looking to draft more than one defensive lineman to join the roster.
“When you come into the offseason, and you look at our defensive line, you have Chris Jones and then Omar Norman-Lott, who’s coming off an injury,” Veach reflected. “I still think we need two more.”
“Even with the addition of Tonga, I still think we’re a few short there,” Veach reiterated. “So that will certainly be a definite position of need entering next week.”
Based on Veach’s comments, the Chiefs could be addressing the defensive line position not only early, but also often in next week’s draft. Unlike the offensive line, Veach and the Chiefs see more positional value at the defensive line.
“The defensive line,” Veach pondered. “I do think there are really good, solid pockets in (rounds) three and four, so there is a lot of good depth there.”
The Chiefs ranked 23rd in sacks (35) in 2025. The defense’s inability to force a consistent pass rush led to more success for opponents on third down. The team also struggled to force a game-changing turnover. Bolstering the front seven is needed to support a defensive secondary that has also lost playmakers in the offseason.
The bottom line
Improving both offensive and defensive line depth is a necessary step to help the Chiefs return to winning ways in 2026. Kansas City has more flexibility in this draft than the franchise has had in the past four seasons.
If the organization is going to extend the dynasty, the Chiefs must seize this opportunity and rebuild the roster for the next era of Chiefs football.
