We are just over a week away from the start of the 2026 NFL Draft, so we are down to crunch time of mock draft season.
For The Athletic, draft expert Dane Brugler authored a full, seven-round mock draft that featured nine predicted picks for the Kansas City Chiefs. Let’s take a closer look at how the Chiefs’ draft could shake out in the mind of one of the draft’s most in-depth analysts:
First round
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Rueben Bain Jr., edge, Miami
Bain is one of the more polarizing prospects in this draft (for
multiple reasons). But his profile fits Kansas City and would give defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo an inside-outside disruptor on the defensive line.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (from LAR): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Chiefs have used a top-60 draft pick at wide receiver in three of the past four drafts, but the position remains unsettled for them. Boston is a tall ball winner and would be somewhat of a pivot from what this team normally drafts early at the position.
My take
According to Brugler’s top-100 ranking in his draft guide “The Beast,” Bain is his ninth-ranked player in the class, and Boston ranks 26th, the sixth-ranked receiver for him.
When considering positional value in thinking through the Chiefs’ two first-round picks, there is strong logic to choosing a combination of defensive line and wide receiver. Kansas City would have control for up to five years — even six with a franchise tag — over players at positions that are the highest-paid in the NFL outside of quarterbacks.
It’s easy to see how Bain could elevate the impact of the Chiefs’ defensive front around the remaining All-Pro years of defensive tackle Chris Jones. Even if there are reasons not to believe in his ceiling as a perennial Pro Bowler, Bain raises the floor and ceiling of the run defense and pass rush immediately.
Boston has a profile that could be considered a worthwhile consolation prize to missing out on Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, who was selected the pick before No. 9. Boston is 6 feet 4 inches tall and 212 pounds, using his big frame to his advantage at the catch point and to run through physical coverage.
He does not appear to have the open-field speed or quickness that the Chiefs typically covet at the receiver position, but the team may feel the need to add the strengths he does present, regardless.
Day 2
40. Chiefs: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
74. Chiefs: Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
My take
By Brugler’s rankings, Cisse is his 45th-ranked player in the class and the seventh-highest-ranked cornerback. Delp is the fourth-ranked tight end and 86th-overall ranked player for 2026.
This mock draft started with positional value in mind, and that should include the team’s confidence in its ability to develop the cornerback position. I believe Kansas City should weaponize that strength as an organization and use the two Day 1 picks on other positions.
Once the team is navigating Day 2 of the draft, the defensive backfield should re-emerge as one of the biggest holes on the roster. There will be viable options to boost the cornerback room at pick No. 40, and Cisse is just one of them. In this mock draft, San Diego State’s Chris Johnson, Tennessee’s Colton Hood, Clemson’s Avieon Terrell and Cisse all go between picks No. 30 and 40.
Losing cornerbacks Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie, the team needs someone who can hold their own in physical, man coverage. Cisse fits the bill and could become a steal if the flaws in his game are cleaned up by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and defensive backs coach Dave Merritt.
As for Delp, he is easily one of my favorite options at tight end from pick No. 74 and on. He played in a pro-style offense at Georgia, at nearly 6 feet 5 inches tall and 247 pounds. Despite mediocre production for the Bulldogs, Delp projects to have his best seasons of football ahead of him.
Day 3
109. Chiefs: Austin Barber, OT, Florida
148. Chiefs: Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest
169. Chiefs: Cameron Ball, DT, Arkansas
176. Chiefs: Aiden Fisher, LB, Indiana
210. Louis Moore, S, Indiana
My take
To round out the class, it does feel important that Kansas City acquires another offensive tackle who can compete for the long-term role starting on the right edge. Barber started at left tackle for the Florida Gators over the last two seasons, but has 490 collegiate snaps at right tackle as well, according to Pro Football Focus.
He is the 11th-ranked offensive tackle according to Brugler, fitting the Chiefs’ thresholds at nearly 6 feet 7 inches tall, 318 pounds and an arm length of 33 3/4 inches.
The addition of Claiborne, the seventh-ranked back in the class by Brugler, would be an exciting one. Only Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame and Mike Washington Jr. from Arkansas ran faster 40-yard dashes than Claiborne (4.37 seconds). The combination of him with the Chiefs’ current backs — Kenneth Walker III and Emari Demercado — would make for the most explosive the team’s backfield has been in a long time.
With the stability of nose tackle Khyiris Tonga in the mix, there is logic to the Chiefs waiting to take a chance on a defensive tackle like Ball. The massive defensive lineman from Arkansas could be a handful for an NFL offensive line right away, but he needs development to stick in the rotation for the long term.
The linebacker and safety positions are underrated needs in the draft, and could easily be addressed before the last two picks in the draft. However, it’s not a bad idea to invest in two members of last year’s National Championship team in Indiana. The duo of Hoosiers finished top 5 among Indiana defenders in snaps played during the 16-0 campaign.
