When looking ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs are already dealing from a slightly limited deck knowing they're out a sixth-round choice. General manager Brett Veach has six scheduled choices instead of his original seven, but given his recent track record, that should still bring in some impressive talent.
The team's sixth-rounder belongs to the New England Patriots, courtesy of the midseason trade in 2024 for pass rusher Joshua Uche. Instead of adding a much-needed speed element outside, the Chiefs only allowed Uche on the field for 87 total snaps, leaving him as a healthy scratch for several contests.
That's not the sort of return any team wants on its draft investments, even late-round picks in future drafts, but here's hoping the rest of the choices will yield better results.
To get a read on how things can go in the 2026 draft, we recently looked at Pro Football Network's latest seven-round draft to see how a Chiefs rookie class could look next spring.
First round - Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State
For Chiefs fans hungry for a much higher ceiling in the backfield, the idea of a first-round investment at running back is going to be a welcome take. For others still reeling from how Clyde Edwards-Helaire panned out, this could be a divisive selection.
Either way, there's no denying the Chiefs need greater production and reliability in the backfield given the current choices. Isiah Pacheco is slated to hit free agency next spring after his rookie deal expires. He's not alone, given that Kareem Hunt and Elijah Mitchell both signed one-year deals to play in 2025.
Brashard Smith is the only running back on the roster under contract beyond this current season, which means there's actually room for two or three larger imports at running back. Taking Singleton in the first would give the Chiefs a true three-down presence whose breakaway speed would be a perfect addition to Andy Reid's offense.
Second round - Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M
Cornerback is another position set for a mass exodus next spring. Jaylen Watson is scheduled to leave, as are Joshua Williams and Nazeeh Johnson. Given the injury risks involving Kristian Fulton, it makes sense for the Chiefs to address the position with another draft choice on Day 2 shortly after adding Nohl Williams in 2025.
Adding Will Lee III would add another very good tackler to a position at which such skills are vital for Steve Spagnuolo's defense. Lee's presence would also maintain the sort of depth on the boundary that would allow the Chiefs to keep things versatile with Trent McDuffie and others. Even with Nohl Williams, McDuffie, Chamarri Conner, and Fulton already in the mix for 2026, Lee's addition makes a lot of sense for the short- and long-term.
Third Round - Patrick Payton, EDGE, LSU
Patrick Payton decided to depart for LSU after recording 16 sacks over the last few years at Florida State, which means he'll have a significant chance to enhance his pro resume (or sink his draft stock), depending on how he adapts.
The Chiefs have solid level of depth on the edges in the present, but establishing that pipeline will fuel the defense's ability to compete at a high level for years to come. Consistent early draft picks year after year have given K.C. a line that's as young and deep as they've had since Andy Reid took over the team.
The addition of Payton keeps the cupboards full while giving him time to develop behind other prospects like Ashton Gillotte. It also helps to navigate the potential losses of Charles Omenihu and others.
Fourth Round - Ethan Onianwa, OT, Ohio State
The Chiefs already made major moves at tackle in 2025 to draft Josh Simmons and sign Jaylon Moore. But Moore is only in K.C. through 2026, and Jawaan Taylor is likely going to be a cap casualty after the current season. There's room here for further long-term investment, and that's where taking a mid-round chance on Ethan Onianwa comes into play.
Onianwa has big shoes to fill (Josh Simmons) after transferring from Rice to Ohio State, but he's a big-bodied prospect hoping that playing in a brighter spotlight helps his draft stock. He brings versatility with three years of starts as both a right and left tackle for the Owls. That adaptability would be a welcome competitor for the Chiefs.
Fifth Round - Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
Some Chiefs fans might want the team to take a tight end much higher, knowing that Travis Kelce could be retiring after this year. The selection of Delp would at least add another depth option to compete with Jared Wiley behind Noah Gray in a bit of a transition year in 2026 as the Chiefs discern where to go in the future.
Seventh Round - Miller Moss, QB, Louisville
Miller Moss is a late-round flyer at a position where the Chiefs could (and should) start drafting the occasional developmental prospect, if only to take advantage of other QB-needy teams who would pay for someone mentored by Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. Moss' pro stock will hinge largely on how he performs in a new environment after transferring from USC.