Chiefs 7-round mock draft kicks off with glorious WR1 for Patrick Mahomes

The Kansas City Chiefs haven't given Patrick Mahomes a true top-flight wide receiver since Tyreek Hill's heyday. There's some reason to be bullish on the current group, but between Rashee Rice's off-field issues, and Xavier Worthy's slender frame, who can KC really count on in 2026?

As Mahomes recovers from a torn ACL and LCL, it'd behoove the Chiefs to give him a legit No. 1 weapon now that Travis Kelce is nearing the end of his career. The 2026 NFL Draft provides a golden opportunity for them to do just that, and address another need with their second first-round pick.

In this Chiefs mock draft, which features no trades and utilizes all their picks from Rounds 1 through 6, GM Brett Veach kicks things off with the latest WR1-caliber playmaker from Ohio State.

Ohio State star headlines Chiefs 7-round mock draft to stabilize Patrick Mahomes' turbulent receiver corps

Round 1, Pick 9 — Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Thanks to multiple blue-chip defenders and a couple offensive tackles flying off the board in front of them, Kansas City has its pick of the litter at wide receiver with the ninth overall pick. They figuratively sprint the card in for Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate in this scenario and don't think twice about it.

Tate was overshadowed by Jeremiah Smith in Columbus, but that'll happen to anyone. It doesn't cloud the fact that he averaged a strong 17.2 yards per catch on 51 receptions with nine TDs in 2025.

With exceptional ball skills (12 out of 14 on contested catches; zero drops), plus size, and nuanced route-running ability, Tate is a true can't-miss receiver prospect. He keeps some pretty elite company on certain telling production metrics.

Round 1, Pick 29 (via Rams) — Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Losing two starting cornerbacks in Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to the Rams put Kansas City's group in a precarious place. Using the first-rounder they acquired from Los Angeles in the McDuffie trade, the Chiefs could easily take the plunge on Tennessee man coverage specialist Colton Hood.

Pairing Hood with Nohl Williams provides KC's D with two promising options on the boundary of their secondary. The 21-year-old shined for the Volunteers after transferring from Colorado, and made huge strides in cleaning up his prior issue of missing tackles. By PFF's count, Hood converted 50 of his 54 tackle attempts in his final collegiate season.

Round 2, Pick 40 — Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri

If one of the draft's top defensive ends falls to No. 9, the Chiefs may pull the trigger. In this instance, they can score a first-round-caliber prospect in Mizzou's Zion Young near the top of Round 2 instead. His length at 6'6" and ultra-violent on-field demeanor translated to 16.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and 53 QB pressures this past year.

Young's DWI charge may ding his stock a bit. He could still hear his name called on Day 1 in spite of that. He could compete for snaps with 2025 third-round pick Ashton Gillotte and form a solid trio of defensive ends in league with George Karlaftis.

Round 3, Pick 74 — Kamari Ramsey, S, USC

Cornerback wasn't the only position to take an offseason hit in the Chiefs' defensive backfield. They also lost veteran safety Bryan Cook to the Bengals. Kamari Ramsey thrived as a slot corner last season, yet most of his prior experience came as a deep safety.

Wherever Kansas City wants to line him up, Ramsey has the decisive play diagnosing skills and coverage chops to start right away. He'd represent excellent value for the Chiefs in Round 3.

Chiefs mock draft adds compelling defensive depth & more explosive pass-catchers on Day 3

Round 4, Pick 109 — Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor

Round 5, Pick 148 — Devon Marshall, CB, NC State

Round 5, Pick 169 — Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati

Round 5, Pick 176 — Ar'maj Reed-Adams, OL, Texas A&M

Round 6, Pick 210 — Jadon Canady, NB, Oregon

Jeff Caldwell stands out among this group. He's another Ohio wide receiver product who blew up the Combine with a 4.32 40 and 42-inch vertical leap at 6'5", 214 pounds. Can't ask for a much toolsier fifth-round flier who could valmoprhanize into a truly special deep threat.

Between Worthy, Caldwell, and even Tyquan Thornton, the Chiefs would have speed for days and downfield weapons galore at Mahomes' disposal.

If the Chiefs want an uber-talented tight end who can stretch the seam and learn the finer points of being a pro under Kelce's tutelage, Michael Trigg should be squarely on their radar. Andy Reid is known for taking risks on prospects with character concerns. Trigg was suspended in 2024 at Baylor, and before that, unceremoniously left Ole Miss' program for alleged missed practices amongst other issues.

All that said, it's hard to deny how dangerous of a pass-catcher Trigg could be at the NFL level if his head is on straight. Kansas City is an ideal organization for him to develop in, and Reid can find ways to get the ball in his hands.

Texas A&M product Ar'maj Reed-Adams is a utility interior blocker who'd be a key backup going forward. Reserve guards Mike Caliendo and C.J. Hanson (restricted) will hit free agency next offseason.

As for the defensive prospects here, Oregon nickelback Jadon Canady could very well step into a starting role in the future. Kader Kohou is only on a one-year deal, so investing a sixth-rounder in a quality player like Canady makes sense as a contingency plan of sorts.

NC State's Devon Marshall allowed only a 43.5% completion rate and a 56.4 passer rating last year. His coverage skills give him the makings of a classic Chiefs draft diamond in the rough. Given the aforementioned losses of McDuffie and Watson, it's reasonable to expect Kansas City to double-dip at cornerback with this new rookie class.