It is the eve of the 2026 NFL Draft, and the final predictions on what will happen over the first 32 picks are being published by the insiders. The Kansas City Chiefs are slated to make two of those selections
A friend of the site, ESPN’s Peter Schrager, took all the intel he has gathered in the pre-draft process and projected the first round. When it came to the Chiefs and what he believes general manager Brett Veach will do, Schrager authored a trade-back opportunity with the Dallas Cowboys.
Projected
trade
Chiefs get: No. 12 and No. 20
Cowboys get: No. 9 and No. 2912. Kansas City Chiefs (via projected trade with DAL)
Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
The Chiefs have done their homework on the edge rushers near the top of this class, and I could even see them trading up instead of down if Bailey or Reese slid just a little bit more. But moving back three spots (while moving up nine spots later in Round 1) and still getting a top-three edge rusher in the class? It’d be a huge win for Kansas City. Bain had 9.5 sacks last season and could slot in opposite George Karlaftis.
20. Kansas City Chiefs (via projected trade with DAL/GB)
Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
This would be an A-plus first round for the Chiefs, with Bain and then Cooper. Patrick Mahomes is coming off a torn ACL, and the receiver room has some issues. Cooper caught 13 touchdowns last season, and I’ve heard some comps to Deebo Samuel for his toughness and versatility.
My take
This is a unique trade-back prediction, given the Chiefs are not acquiring any additional draft capital. The team is simply moving back from pick No. 9 and moving up from pick No. 29 in one swoop.
Schrager had Kansas City trading out of the ninth pick and passing on the chance to draft LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane and Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, who were the predictions at No. 9 and No. 10.
While Bain at pick No. 12 is a great value in my eyes, the value comes from the potential of gaining more flexibility later in the draft by moving down three spots. That isn’t what happens here.
Now with the 20th pick, Schrager matches the Chiefs with the Indiana wideout who has the ball skills that feel needed in Kansas City’s receiving corps.
That said, is trading up nine spots worth the opportunity cost of multiple draft picks later in the class for a Chiefs team that needs an influx of young talent at many positions? Dallas does not have a second-round pick. Could the team find a more valuable trade offer with the Cowboys by using pick No. 40 instead of No. 29, and receive additional capital later on Day 2 and into Day 3?
Either way, Schrager sees Kansas City trading down if the board falls a certain way. Keep that in mind tomorrow night as the Chiefs near being on the clock.
