The 2026 NFL Draft is a stone’s throw away now, and mock‑draft season is winding down. Every fan loves the chance to step into their general manager’s shoes and make the kinds of decisions that shape their beloved franchise. Today, I’m sharing my official mock draft for the Kansas City Chiefs’ forthcoming class. I’m laying out the options I had at each pick, the logic behind my decisions, and how things might have shaken out if the board had fallen differently.
For this mock, I ran a full seven‑round simulation on the PFSN (Pro Football Network) website. Their simulator lets you draft for free with no limits, and it grades every pick along with the overall class. You can choose your team, set the number of rounds, pick the big board that drives the draft logic, and even adjust the speed of the simulation. I used the Consensus big board because I think it gives the most accurate picture of how the draft might actually unfold. It blends rankings from a wide range of sources, which helps reduce bias and gives a more realistic sense of where players should come off the board. Here's how my mock unfolded for the Chiefs.
Round 1, Pick 9
Players available at this pick:
Jeremiyah Love, Running Back, Notre Dame
Caleb Downs, Safety, Ohio State
Mansoor Delane, Cornerback, LSU
Spencer Fano, Offensive Tackle, Utah
Monroe Freeling, Offensive Tackle, Georgia
The Pick: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
This was a tough way to start the mock. Mansoor Delane is a strong fit for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system as an athletic, pesky press‑man corner. Though, if there’s one area where he leaves something to be desired, it’s his lack of the prototypical length this defensive staff usually covets. Downs ultimately became the pick because he’s the consensus No. 1 safety in the class. It’s not a premium position, but in Kansas City, having a reliable third safety matters. Downs is a true Swiss Army Knife who can line up all over the defense and immediately strengthen the back end.
PFSN Grade: B+
Round 1, Pick 29
Players available at this pick:
Kayden McDonald, Defensive Tackle, Ohio State
Denzel Boston, Wide Receiver, Washington
Colton Hood, Cornerback, Tennessee
Blake Miller, Offensive Tackle, Clemson
Zion Young, Defensive End, Missouri
The Pick: Zion Young, DE, Missouri
There were several intriguing names at positions of need here, but the depth at edge starts thinning quickly at this point in the class. Zion Young is widely viewed as the sixth or seventh-best defensive end prospect in this group. He has the length and size profile that could become ideal with time in an NFL strength program. He is well-rounded and one of the few edge players near the top of this class who can consistently set the edge.
PFSN Grade: B+
Round 2, Pick 40
Players available at this pick:
Brandon Cisse, Cornerback, South Carolina
T.J. Parker, Defensive End, Clemson
Cashius Howell, Defensive End, Texas A&M
Christen Miller, Defensive Tackle, Georgia
Jacob Rodriguez, Linebacker, Texas Tech
The Pick: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
I was tempted to take Christen Miller here. The Chiefs still need interior defensive line reinforcements, but I gave a slight edge to Cisse’s athletic profile and his fit in this system. Under the guidance of secondary coach Dave Merritt, he has real upside with above‑average length and physicality both in coverage and as a run defender. He needs development time to reach his full potential, but that is exactly where the Chiefs can lean on one of the most well‑coached position groups on the roster.
PFSN Grade: A-
Round 3, Pick 74
Players available at this pick:
Keith Abney II, Cornerback, Arizona State
Domonique Orange, Defensive Tackle, Iowa State
Skyler Bell, Wide Receiver, Connecticut
Elijah Sarratt, Wide Receiver, Indiana
Dani Dennis‑Sutton, Edge Rusher, Penn State
The Pick: Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
Skyler Bell was an intriguing option at 74, but I trust the depth at wide receiver more at this stage than I do along the interior defensive line. I went with the local product affectionately known as "Big Citrus." Orange at 322 pounds is a true nose prospect with long arms and big, heavy mitts. He'll hold his ground at the point of attack and help anchor the middle of the defense. You should not expect much from him as a pass rusher, but he can be the immovable object the Chiefs defense lacked inside last season.
PFSN Grade: B+
Round 4, Pick 109
Players available at this pick:
Romello Height, Defensive End, Texas Tech
Keyron Crawford, Defensive End, Auburn
Deion Burks, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma
Jalen Farmer, Offensive Guard, Kentucky
Jonah Coleman, Running Back, Washington
The Pick: Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
This was one of the more straightforward picks for me. I considered Coleman, but his lack of burst makes him an odd fit for the new‑look backfield the Chiefs have built this offseason. Burks is the type of player whose traits and physical tools can be maximized with stronger coaching. He's a good route runner who can produce from the slot in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field. With Chad O’Shea joining Andy Reid’s staff, he’ll have every opportunity to develop. There are concerns about his size and durability, but the athleticism makes him worth the gamble at 109.
PFSN Grade: B+
Round 5, Pick 148
Players available at this pick:
Matt Gulbin, Center, Michigan State
Carson Beck, Quarterback, Miami
DeMonte Capehart, Defensive Tackle, Clemson
Jager Burton, Center, Kentucky
Trey Zuhn III, Center, Texas A&M
The Pick: DeMonte Capehart, DT, Clemson
Capehart was an easy choice here with three interior offensive linemen and a quarterback making up the rest of the board. I probably wouldn’t have double‑dipped at defensive tackle if the board had presented more diverse options here, but the Chiefs need depth inside. Capehart is a powerful disruptor with a good first step and heavy hands, and he projects as a solid rotational piece for the interior defensive line room.
PFSN Grade: B-
Round 5, Pick 169
Players available at this pick:
Jager Burton, Center, Kentucky
Devon Marshall, Cornerback, North Carolina State
Taylen Green, Quarterback, Arkansas
Nate Boerkircher, Tight End, Texas A&M
Cole Payton, Quarterback, North Dakota State
The Pick: Devon Marshall, CB, N.C. State
Boerkircher was a consideration as a TE2, but I went with a second cornerback in NC State’s Devon Marshall. He’s aggressive and consistently makes plays on the ball. Marshall is smooth in coverage with the ability to backpedal, turn, and run, and he brings versatility in both man and zone alignments. This is another position where it doesn't hurt to double-dip with the departures of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson.
PFSN Grade: B+
Round 5, Pick 176
Players available at this pick:
Jager Burton, Center, Kentucky
Taylen Green, Quarterback, Arkansas
Nate Boerkircher, Tight End, Texas A&M
Cole Payton, Quarterback, North Dakota State
Marlin Klein, Tight End, Michigan
The Pick: Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan
The Chiefs get their TE2 in the fifth round with the addition of Marlin Klein. He’s adept as an in‑line blocker and has enough speed to eventually become a viable pass catcher with more route development. He offers value right away as a run blocker, but he’ll need time to mature at the next level. This deep into the draft, taking a flier on a player with his skill set is worth the risk.
PFSN Grade: B-
Round 6, Pick 210
Players available at this pick:
Robert Henry, Running Back, Texas-San Antonio
Cade Klubnik, Quarterback, Clemson
Fa'alili Fa'amoe, Guard, Wake Forest
George Gumbs, Defensive End, Florida
John Michael Gyllenborg, Tight End, Wyoming
The Pick: Robert Henry, Jr., RB, UT-San Antonio
The Chiefs close out their draft class with another Day 3 swing at running back. Last year, they took Brashard Smith at 228. In the 2026 NFL Draft, they add Robert Henry Jr. to round out the class. Henry gives them a wiggly and explosive change‑of‑pace option in the backfield and fits a newly-retooled group built for chunk plays. He’ll need to clean up the fumbles, but Eric Bieniemy and new running backs coach DeMarco Murray will make that a priority.
PFSN Grade: A-
Mock draft recap for the Chiefs
â–ª Round 1, Pick 9: S Caleb Downs (Ohio State)
â–ª Round 1, Pick 29: EDGE Zion Young (Missouri)
â–ª Round 2, Pick 40: CB Brandon Cisse (South Carolina)
â–ª Round 3, Pick 74: DT Domonique Orange (Iowa State)
â–ª Round 4, Pick 109: WR Deion Burks (Oklahoma)
â–ª Round 5, Pick 148: DT DeMonte Capehart (Clemson)
â–ª Round 5, Pick 169: CB Devon Marshall (NC State)
â–ª Round 5, Pick 176: TE Marlin Klein (Michigan)
â–ª Round 6, Pick 210: RB Robert Henry Jr. (UTSA)
This mock didn’t lay out perfectly, but it still gives the Chiefs much‑needed depth at thin defensive spots and adds a couple of offensive players with real upside. I wish the board had cooperated and given me more high‑impact options at running back, wide receiver, and tight end, but strong coaching could maximize the potential of the players I did land. From this group, I think three players have a legitimate chance to make a meaningful Year One impact. It’s not a flashy class, but it’s one that can help this team in the long run.
Overall PFSN Grade: B+
Add us as a preferred source on Google