Kansas City Chiefs 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Trent McDuffie trade gives Brett Veach new options to rebuild championship roster

The Kansas City Chiefs now have a boatload of picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, after sending CB Trent McDuffie to the NFC West in trade to play for the Los Angeles Rams.

I enlisted the help of A to Z Sports’ own Ryan Roberts to craft a brand new 7-round 2026 NFL Mock Draft to reflect the Trent McDuffie trade and learn just how the newly-acquired picks could help Kansas City rebuild its championship roster.

Below you’ll find each of the picks made by Roberts, along with take on the picks for the Chiefs.

Chiefs 7-round 2026 NFL Mock Draft after Trent McDuffie tradeCó thể là hình ảnh về bóng đá, giày đinh và văn bản
Round 1, Pick 9: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
With Trent McDuffie now with the Los Angeles Rams and a couple of other Chiefs cornerbacks set to hit free agency, there is little question that the team needs to add to its secondary this offseason. Delane is an interesting replacement for McDuffie, also possessing the ability to play both on the outside and in the slot at times. It feels like an easy fit, with an incredibly high ceiling, as well.

Goldman’s Take: I don’t see the Chiefs trading McDuffie only to create a hole they need to fill atop the draft. Delane is a talented player, fits the team’s fetish for DBs who have played in Louisiana, and very well could be BPA when the team comes on the clock at No. 9. That said, they’ve done a good job developing cornerbacks of all draft pedigrees. They have three guys on the roster to play in the slot, along with Nohl Williams and Kristian Fulton on the boundaries. I’d rather see an investment in a player like Saints CB Alontae Taylor in free agency or Indiana CB D’Angelo Ponds later in the draft.

Round 1, Pick 29: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Lightning after the catch, there isn’t a wide receiver more dangerous in space than Concepcion. If used correctly, he has Pro Bowl upside, while also being able to make big plays on special teams. This is the type of wide receiver who could do wonders for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Goldman’s Take: The Chiefs can’t rely on Rashee Rice to stay out of trouble or on the field, which makes wide receiver a big need long term. Concepcion was a big riser at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine for his performance, but also for the character he showed. After catching 61 passes for 919 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025, KC in KC seems like a good fit to me.

Round 2, Pick 40: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
Big and physical at 6-3.5 and 330 pounds, Hunter went from a good player at UCF to a dominant one in his lone season with the Red Raiders. There are going to be moments where some underappreciate what Hunter brings to the table, but his teammates. His combination of size and explosiveness at the nose tackle position is extremely unique.

Goldman’s Take: Hunter is easily one of my favorite players in the 2026 NFL Draft class, and I love his fit with the Chiefs. He gives me Vince Wilfork vibes, both on and off the field. He has also already made his case to join Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City.

Round 3, Pick 74: Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
With tremendous contact balance, vision, and ability as a pass protector, Coleman has become one of the more underappreciated players in this class. While he might not be as dynamic as a Jeremiyah Love, Coleman brings a dependability that not many other runners in this class have. He should be able to fight for immediate playing time in an underwhelming Chiefs’ room.

Goldman’s Take: Coleman told reporters at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine that he knows Eric Bieniemy & likes DeMarco Murray. He also envisions himself as a prime Clyde Edwards-Helaire-type running back, before the lower-body injuries mounted and sapped CEH’s athleticism. I could definitely see the fit and the appeal in Kansas City.

Round 4, Pick 109: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
From a physical perspective, Dennis-Sutton has everything you would want from the defensive end position. For whatever reason, it just never fully clicked in Happy Valley. A good defensive line coach should still be very excited for what Dennis-Sutton could eventually develop into.

Goldman’s Take: Dennis-Sutton is a total Spags edge rusher, so I could definitely see this as a big fit for Kansas City. That said, waiting until Round 4 to take an edge rusher would only be realistic if the team made an investment at the position in free agency. One thing this pick would assure? Chiefs legend Tamba Hali would get a player from his alma mater in the Dojo for some Jiu-Jitsu.

Round 5, Pick 147: Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU
Elarms-Orr is one of the best-kept secrets in the 2026 linebacker class. The former Cal transfer is an impressive mover on the second level, with tremendous moments in pass coverage, as well. If his diagnostic skills take a step forward, we are talking about a future starter, and he should also serve as a key special-teams player at worst.

Goldman’s Take: Linebacker is an underrated need for Kansas City with Leo Chenal and Jack Cochrane set for free agency. Elarms-Orr feels like the type of player who would immediately become a favorite of Dave Toub and provide depth behind the current cast of Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill.

Round 5, Pick 168: Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan
Klein is still relatively inexperienced in football, having originally come from Germany. He boasts a nice frame with notable athleticism to work with. There is plenty of upside to develop into a rotational player down the road.

Goldman’s Take: Tight ends typically take some time to adjust to the NFL, so a developmental option wouldn’t be the worst thing for Kansas City. I tend to believe they need someone who is more of a blocking specialist, like Indiana TE Riley Nowakowski.

Round 5, Pick 177: Mason Reiger, EDGE, Wisconsin
The former Louisville transfer is an explosive athlete with a ton of physical talent. Given his injury history, there is a chance Reiger could drop a bit in April, but could present huge value for one lucky team.

Goldman’s Take: A standout at the 2026 Shrine Bowl, earning Defensive MVP of the game. The Chiefs need all the help they can get at the edge rusher position, and Reiger could turn out to be exactly the hidden gem that Joe Cullen needs to get the most out of the team’s edge rush.

Round 6, Pick 208: Collin Wright, CB, Stanford
With so much potential turnover in the cornerback room for the Chiefs, double-dipping at the position could be wise. While Wright isn’t a dynamic athlete, he is extremely smooth and intelligent. He feels like a player who just finds a way to stick.

Goldman’s Take: As I mentioned earlier, the Chiefs have a strong reputation for developing cornerbacks across all draft pedigrees. This feels like the type of depth move that gets the team to a place of comfort in a post-Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, and Josh Williams cornerback room.

 

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