The Kansas City Chiefs have a lot of work ahead this offseason.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach is tasked with getting the team salary cap compliant before the new league year begins on March 11, which will present its own challenges. He’s also tasked with retooling the roster after a 6-11 season, which is the worst single-season record of the Andy Reid era in Kansas City. That retooling will be shaped by the 2026 NFL free agency period and the 2026 NFL Draft.

With college All-Star games like the Senior Bowl now behind us, the Chiefs’ offseason plans are beginning to take shape. Their draft plans will be influenced by free agency and other decisions yet to come this offseason. With that in mind, here are some new insights into the team’s thinking regarding this draft class coming out of Mobile, Alabama.

What will and won’t matter for the Chiefs at pick No. 9

There has been some speculation that the Chiefs could take position groups like safety, linebacker, tight end, and running back off their draft board at No. 9 because of the perceived discount NFL teams receive on rookie contracts for those positions compared to others. While the team is aware of the financials, I can say with certainty that it won’t be a driving factor in their selection at No. 9, should they stay at that pick.

Those at the highest levels of the Chiefs organization view pick No. 9 as a premium selection with a near-guaranteed opportunity to acquire a true difference-maker and a franchise pillar. It’s something they haven’t been able to do since trading up with the Buffalo Bills to acquire Patrick Mahomes at pick No. 10 in the 2017 NFL Draft, and an opportunity they don’t expect to have again soon. They’re specifically looking for a player who can elevate the offense or defense in the same way that No. 15 took the team’s game to new heights. Will they have enough first-round grades on their draft board to hit and find a true blue-chip player at that pick, though?

If, for some reason, they don’t feel a player like that is available when they come on the clock, it’s reasonable to believe they could seek volume of picks over standing pat at that position. The team has a lot of needs, but they’re also starved for S-Tier talent after years of picking late in the draft. Trading back is only something that would be entertained as a last resort, even if it means taking a player at a position that’s viewed as less of a discount on a rookie contract.

Wide receiver class bodes well for navigating Chiefs’ current situation

The Chiefs face some uncertainty at the wide receiver position after Rashee Rice landed in the news for the wrong reasons again, just days after the offseason began. The team and the NFL indicated they were aware of accusations against Rice, but it’s unclear whether anything will come of them at this time. What’s clear is that Kansas City cannot rely on Rice to stay out of trouble. They need to treat his being on the field as a luxury, not a guarantee, at this point. Thankfully, this situation isn’t as close in proximity to the draft, so they’ve got some time to do their digging there.

The top of the receiver class is very intriguing, given where the Chiefs are picking with names like USC’s Makai Lemon, Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, and Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson. However, there’s a lot of depth to this receiver class, and it’s not just at one particular type of wide receiver. There are plenty of different flavors. This is the type of class where you want to pick up a player at the position and reinforce your depth. That’s especially the case when Xavier Worthy is your only proven option at the position, outside of Rice, who is under contract.

It’s worth noting that the Chiefs had boots on the ground with assistant QB coach Dan Williams working with the National Team wide receivers at the 2026 Senior Bowl. That includes standouts like Baylor WR Josh Cameron, John Carroll WR Tyren Montgomery, and Texas Tech WRs Reggie Virgil and Caleb Douglas. There was also a late addition to the roster in Michigan WR Donaven McCulley, who had four catches for 50 yards in the game. Those are all names that K.C. could consider on Day 2 and Day 3.

The running back class lacks true immediate game-changers, but might have some hidden gems

This is not a top-heavy running back class, but it might have more depth than people initially gave it credit for. Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love is universally viewed as the top back. The Chiefs could have a strong connection to him, given their preferred choice in running backs coach.

Beyond Love, there are a few names getting a lot of buzz after the Senior Bowl week and practices.

Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr. (6-foot-2 and 228 pounds) is one who has quickly risen up NFL teams’ draft boards this week (including in Kansas City) for unrealized potential as a pass-catcher. He caught 71 passes for 470 yards and three touchdowns during his career across Buffalo, New Mexico State, and Arkansas. During the practice week, he was a major mismatch in the passing game.

Another player who caught attention is Oklahoma RB Jaydn Ott, who is just a few years removed from a conference-leading 1,000-yard rushing campaign with Cal. He was one of the top players during the practice week in pass-protection drills, which the Chiefs value highly and will be missing from the offense if Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt do not return.

Other names with some buzz coming out of the week are South Carolina RB Rahsul Faison, Indiana RB Jaelon Black, Clemson RB Adam Randall, Virginia RB J’Mari Taylor, and Penn State RB Kaytron Allen. Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton, who was likely the top-ranked running back prospect at the Senior Bowl, reportedly broke his foot during the practice week and dropped out of the game. That could drop him a late-round steal.

Adding talent to the offensive trenches is not off the table for the Chiefs

The Chiefs have made a ton of investments in the offensive line in both free agency dollars and in the NFL Draft, but they could continue adding to that group. Jawaan Taylor might not be back at the right tackle position, given how much the Chiefs can save should they release him. Even if Taylor is back, they can always serve to add depth across the entire O-Line. I’m told some in the building believe the Chiefs should draft an offensive lineman every year because the learning curve from college is only getting steeper for the position.

Teams meet with virtually every prospect at All-Star games like the Senior Bowl, but I can confirm that the Chiefs met in some capacity with Auburn OG Jeremiah Wright, Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor, Georgia Tech OG Keylan Rutledge, Kentucky OG Jalen Farmer, Miami OT Markel Bell, and Maryland OT Alan Herron during the Senior Bowl week.

They’re clearly doing their diligence across the O-Line to see if they can further protect Patrick Mahomes as he comes back from a major knee injury in 2026. There’s also a desire to build depth in a position group that needed more in 2025, while knowing that the NFL injury bug can be unsustainable, as it was for Kansas City late in the season.

The Chiefs may cast a wide net to improve the defensive line

If there’s one position group I could see the typical Brett Veach overcorrection for this offseason, it’s the defensive line, both the interior and the edge rushers. I’m told the feeling on the personnel side is that they left a few too many things to chance during the 2025 NFL offseason. Injuries, a lack of development from draft picks, and certain UDFAs not taking a step forward all contributed to a down year for that group. The strategy on the interior defensive line, with a trade to reacquire Derrick Nnadi and bringing Mike Pennel back midseason, is one the team is not too keen to repeat.

The good news is there’s a belief that Omarr Norman-Lott will be ready to start the 2026 NFL season after suffering an ACL injury in Week 7 of 2025. Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo have been adamant that he was coming along and would’ve been a big part of the unit’s success down the stretch had he not been hurt. The Chiefs can’t rely on Norman-Lott alone and know they need better production out of the pass rush in 2026. Free agency will help reinforce depth, but the team will also look to add young talent through the 2026 NFL Draft. Setting Chris Jones up for a more successful year based on those around him is key, and that includes some fresh faces at edge rusher.

After the Senior Bowl, it’s increasingly apparent that there’s depth at edge in the 2026 class and that the team doesn’t necessarily need to force the issue at pick No. 9 if players like Reuben Bain Jr. and David Bailey aren’t available. Clemson DE T.J. Parker, Missouri DE Zion Young, Illinois DE Gabe Jacas, Michigan DE Derrick Moore, Duke DE Vincent Anthony Jr., Auburn DE Keyron Crawford, and Western Michigan DE Nadame Tucker all boosted their draft stock in Mobile, Alabama. I can confirm that the Chiefs met with Young, Jacas, and Moore during Senior Bowl week. It leaves me feeling like the No. 40 overall pick could be used to bolster the edge rusher position.

This defensive back class bodes well for the Chiefs, given Brett Veach’s draft history

This defensive back class is the Chiefs’ dream, with a ton of talent not just in the first three rounds but also a ton of talent on Day 3. We’ve seen Kansas City capitalize on late-round draft choices at defensive back, notably with the additions made in the 2022 NFL Draft. The secondary for the Chiefs is mostly in a good spot right now, save for some questions about Trent McDuffie’s future and the safety room. My impression is that the plan in Kansas City is more about raising the floor than the ceiling in the defensive back room. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Chiefs add both a safety in free agency and a cornerback prospect on Day 3. Perhaps they even seek to prioritize players at those positions who reach undrafted free agency.

About the author

Charles Goldman

NFL Managing Editor

Charles Goldman is an NFL Managing Editor for A to Z Sports. He has been covering the Kansas City Chiefs for a decade.