The Kansas City Chiefs got off to an exciting start in the 2026 NFL Draft by moving up to select LSU cornerba
ck Mansoor Delane with the sixth overall pick in the draft.Later in the first round, the Chiefs took defensive tackle Peter Woods from Clemson.
The Chiefs started off day two by selecting edge rusher R Mason Thomas 40th overall.
Things got fun on day three with the Chiefs adding another cornerback in Jadon Canady from Oregon, Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson, Cincinnati wide receiver Cyrus
Allen, and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier from LSU.
Here are five things we learned from the Chiefs’ 2026 NFL draft.
1. The Chiefs thought cornerback was their biggest need
The Chiefs lost their top two players at the position, one of whom was an All-Pro. Still, Kansas City kept its feelings close to the vest, out of fear that if another team sniffed through its smokescreen, it might not get its guy.
And if it’s one thing we know about Chiefs general manager Brett Veach, it’s that he will go get his guy.
Delane is proof of this—but what was at least a little surprising to hear is that the team viewed its third round selection (pick 74) as trade ammo for a cornerback all along.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported after the draft that if Kansas City was unsuccessful in moving up for Delane, the front office was planning on using pick 74 to move up and take San Diego cornerback Chris Johnson later in round one.
I’ll say this about the Delane selection. When you’re picking in the top 10 in the draft, you have to walk away with a blue-chip player, and I think there’s a good chance the Chiefs got that in Delane, who is a smart and physical player who should fit in perfectly with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.
2. The Chiefs have one of the best running back rooms in the league
When the Chiefs added Kenneth Walker III and Emari Demercado in free agency, it sent a clear message to the league that the days of undervaluing the running game and the position should be over in Kansas City.
But adding Emmett Johnson in the fifth round has the potential to be the biggest steal in the draft. I had Johnson as the second-best running back in this draft, only behind Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love. A lot of analysts were down on Johnson when he ran a slower-than-expected 4.56-second 40-yard dash. But what these talking heads failed to point out in many cases was that Johnson had the fastest 20-yard shuttle time of all running backs at the combine.
And when you put on the tape, it’s that shuttle time that pops off the screen.
Johnson is a master at navigating traffic. His vision and lateral agility are off the charts. He isn’t a track star, but I’d rather have a guy like Le’Veon Bell (who ran a 4.6 4o-yard dash at the combine), who can read his blockers and can start and stop on a dime, and Johnson fits that mold.
3. The quarterback position just got interesting
We still don’t know if quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be ready for the first week of the season, but regardless, the Chiefs need additional bodies at the position to get through offseason workouts and training camp. But I think the selection of Nussmeier goes beyond that.
If Mahomes isn’t ready to start the season, then we may have a legitimate quarterback battle on our hands to see who gets the privilege of steering the ship until Mahomes returns. History tells us that head coach Andy Reid is going to favor the veteran, AKA Justin Fields. But with a legitimate prospect like Nussmeier sliding that late in the draft, it poses the question of whether Reid might be willing to bet on the rookie’s upside over the more known entity in Fields.
And then what happens when Mahomes returns?
Is this the season when the Chiefs hold on to three quarterbacks for the added security of a backup plan?
4. Cyrus Allen could be a really good fit for this team
Allen is 5 feet 11 inches tall and 180 pounds, works well out of the slot, is sure-handed, and is a proficient route runner. He isn’t the fastest guy, but he is really good after the catch and gets deadlier the shorter the field gets, to the point that he’s basically John Wick in the red zone.
As I read back over this, I can’t help but think that I could be describing the Chiefs’ newest receiver, or Wes Welker or Julian Edelman. I highlight these two players specifically because they are both protégés of the Chiefs’ new receiving coach, Chad O’Shea, from his time with the New England Patriots.
Now, I’m not saying that Allen will have the same career that either one of those players had — he is still a fifth-round draft pick after all — but if Allen does outplay his draft slot as Welker (who went undrafted) and Edelman (seventh round selection) did, it won’t surprise me.
5. It’s still hard to rebuild Rome in a day draft, but the Chiefs are on their way
Overall, I think the Chiefs got significantly better on both sides of the ball in this draft. As always, the fortunes of Rome Chiefs Kingdom rise and fall with Patrick The Great, and his ability to take over the entire known world. If he is healthy in 2026, then the Chiefs should have the pieces in place to make a legitimate push to reclaim their place at the top of the AFC.
Bonus: I can’t wait to see Chiefs Kingdom lose their minds over Jeff Caldwell
If you thought Justyn Ross had preseason Stans, just wait until Caldwell scores a touchdown in garbage time of the third preseason game.
Then again, if he can learn how to run a route, watch out, world.
