Chiefs cannot afford to miss at these critical draft positions

With the draft right around the corner and the Chiefs holding nine picks, what happens in Pittsburgh two weeks from now may be the most impactful part of the Chiefs' offseason. The Chiefs looked to patch most of their offseason needs in free agency, but the draft will hold the key as they look to return to the playoffs after a disappointing 2025 season.

Kansas City will be picking in the top ten for the first time since they drafted superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes with the 10th pick in the 2017 draft. Following a strong free agency period where the Chiefs filled almost all of their major needs, the 2026 class is loaded with potential for the Chiefs to turn things around. It is almost imperative that the Chiefs take advantage of their three top-50 picks if they want to find their way back to the Super Bowl anytime soon.

The question now surrounds how the Chiefs will use their picks this offseason and what their biggest priorities will be on draft day. The Chiefs could go a lot of directions on draft day, and several positions hold a lot more value than others in the 2026 class. Now, the biggest question remaining for the Chiefs concerns their draft-day priorities and where they should make their biggest investments this offseason.

Looking into the most valuable positions factors in two things. The first of which is simply how much the Chiefs need the position and where their biggest gaps are on the depth chart. The second factor accounts for value, which comes from the depth of talent in this year's draft and how early the Chiefs have to invest to land a quality prospect.

So, which five positions will hold the most weight for the Chiefs' front office on draft day?

1. Defensive End

Defensive end is the clear-cut most valuable position for the Chiefs in the 2026 draft. After losing Mike Danna and Charles Omenihu to free agency, there is a major gap across from George Karlaftis that needs to be filled. The Chiefs cannot rely on young players like Ashton Gillotte or Felix Anudike-Uzomah to fill those gaps. This year's DL class is thin, and if the Chiefs want to land a high-quality player, they will have to do it early.

Top targets: Rueben Bain Jr, Keldrick Faulk, Akheem Mesidor, Gabe Jacas, Dani Dennis-Sutton

2. Wide Receiver

It was clear the Chiefs prioritized helping Patrick Mahomes this offseason when they handed a massive contract to running back Kenneth Walker. But with minimal investment into the receiver room, the Chiefs will need to lean on the draft if they want to provide Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes with a reliable pass catcher. While the Chiefs' staff may be more comfortable at receiver than we are, that does not change the severity of the need in this year's draft.

Top targets: Carnell Tate, Omar Cooper Jr, Chris Bell, Reggie Virgil

3. Cornerback

Corner is maybe the biggest hole on the Chiefs' roster going into the draft, and after losing Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to the Rams, there are major holes to fill. The Chiefs did sign Kader Kohou and Kaiir Elam, but that simply will not cut it in the secondary. This year's draft class is flooded with cornerback talent, which is why it has been moved down the priority list, and the Chiefs will likely be able to find their answers at corner later in the draft than most think.

Top targets: Davison Igbinosun, Chris Johnson, Julian Neal, Brandon Cisse

4. Defensive Tackle

Over the last couple of years, defensive tackle has proven to be one of the most valuable positions in the NFL, and while the Chiefs already have a star in Chris Jones, it would not hurt to get him some help. Kansas City did bring in Khyiris Tonga this offseason, and they will have Omarr Norman-Lott returning from injury as well. But the Chiefs could use another pure three-tech defensive tackle, and in this year's class, there are not many great ones on the board. If the Chiefs want to bolster their defensive line's interior, they will have to do it sooner rather than later.

Top targets: Peter Woods, Gracen Halton, Kayden McDonald, Christian Miller, DeMonte Capehart

5. Offensive tackle

It has been rumored by several sources from a wide range of backgrounds that the Chiefs are interested in an offensive tackle this offseason. This suggests that Kansas City is either not very confident in Jaylon Moore at right tackle or concerned about Josh Simmons's availability at left tackle. Regardless, the Chiefs have two strong starters at tackle, and Esa Pole looked strong late in the year, so this should not be a top priority for them on draft day. This year's class is thin at tackle, which is why it warrants some extra value, but there are some good options on day three.

Top targets: Dametrious Crownover, Tristan Leigh, Nolan Rucci, JC Davis

HM. Safety

Safety is a pretty major hole on the Chiefs' roster, but it is also widely seen as one of the least valuable positions in the draft. There is plenty of depth at safety in this year's class and, with the exception of Caleb Downs and maybe Dillon Thieneman, I would not take one until day three. The Chiefs signed Alohi Gilman to a three-year deal this offseason, but that should not stop them from taking a swing at Downs or looking to add a piece late on day two or early on day three.