With the 2026 NFL Draft fast approaching, it's time to take a look at the top prospects for the Kansas City Chiefs.
You’ll notice this Big Board differs from many national rankings. That’s intentional. We’ve built it around the Chiefs’ current roster makeup and positional needs. As a result, you won’t find many quarterbacks listed here, as Kansas City remains well-established at that position. Instead, we’ve placed greater emphasis on positions that could make a more immediate impact, such as defensive tackle, running back, and edge.
At the moment, the Chiefs are projected to hold six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. While our board presents players in a ranked order, we encourage readers to view them in tiers, as talent gaps within each tier can be fluid.
Because this Big Board is constructed with the Chiefs’ draft tendencies in mind, we’ve also factored in their historical preferences and athletic thresholds. For example, undersized edge rushers, offensive tackles with sub-34-inch arms, or smaller corners who shy away from contact typically don’t align with Kansas City’s profile, and our rankings reflect that. We’ve designed this board to fit what the Chiefs actually value, not just what draft analysts project.
First round grades for the 2026 NFL Draft
Rank | Player | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ruben Bain Jr | ED | Miami |
2 | Caleb Downs | S | Ohio State |
3 | Ty Simpson | QB | Alabama |
4 | Arvell Reese | LB | Ohio State |
5 | Spencer Fano | OT | Utah |
6 | Carnell Tate | WR | Ohio State |
7 | Jordyn Tyson | WR | Arizona |
8 | Keldric Faulk | ED | Aubrun |
9 | Peter Woods | IDL | Clemson |
10 | Jeremiyah Love | RB | Notre Dame |
These top 10 players represent our “1st-round grades.” As you'll notice, this is a pretty small list, which speaks to the class as a whole. While it's still early, we're pretty uninspired by this draft class so far and will adjust rankings accordingly.
With that being said, measuring players by their floor rather than their ceiling might be the safest choice for the 2026 NFL Draft class. These players represent the highest floors in the class. While the Chiefs won't be in the market to draft a QB, as always, they decide the draft, particularly the first round.
Second round grades for the 2026 NFL Draft
Rank | Player | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|
11 | Mansoor Delane | CB | LSU |
12 | Kenyon Sadiq | TE | Oregon |
13 | TJ Parker | ED | Clemson |
14 | Cashius Howell | ED | Texas A&M |
15 | David Bailey | ED | Texas Tech |
16 | LT Overton | ED | Alabama |
17 | Avieon Terrell | CB | Clemson |
18 | Denzel Boston | WR | Washingtom |
19 | Fernando Mendoza | QB | Indiana |
20 | Matayo Uiagalelei | ED | Oregon |
21 | Jermod McCoy | CB | Tennessee |
22 | Caleb Lomu | OT | Utah |
23 | Caleb Banks | IDL | Florida |
24 | Blake Miller | OT | Clemson |
25 | KC Concepcion | WR | Texas A&M |
The above players represent our second-round grades thus far. There will likely be a few more players added with a similar grade. Overall, the depth of the class lines up well for Kansas City, particularly at edge defender and running back. Though we only have one running back in the top 25, it feels like there could be as many as eight in the top 100 this year.