Draft weekend has come to an end for the Kansas City Chiefs, and they have made seven total selections as they look to make a push back to the Super Bowl in 2026. With three picks in the top 40, the Chiefs looked to reload their defense, even trading up for top pick Mansoor Delane.
Kansas City clearly made a push to land the top guys on their board and addressed the top needs across their roster. Now that we have reached the end of the draft, we have an opportunity to reflect on the Chiefs' approach, and I have assigned my final grades to the picks.
Two things to note: First, my grades of these picks do include the trade value used to acquire the players. Second, my grading system may be a little harsher than most, as I feel it is disingenuous to throw out A+ grades to every pick you thought was good.
These grades will be based on how much I liked the player, and to get an A+, the pick would have to feel like a steal. Finally, even if grades are not "good" grades, that does not mean I think the player is bad, and as a fan, I hope they prove me wrong in the long run.
Pick 6: Mansoor Delane - B
Delane was the top corner in the class, hands down, and with the Chiefs desperately needing corner help, Delane brings an immediate boost to the secondary. The Chiefs clearly fell in love with Delane and his cover skills, trading up to land their top player available at the time. On my draft board, Delane was my eighth overall player and the fourth-best available player when he was picked.
Delane gets a B grade, not because I think he will be a bad or even average player in the NFL. It is possible the Chiefs could have landed Delane without the trade, and I personally liked the prospects of Rueben Bain Jr. or Caleb Downs a little bit more. But it is a good grade, as the Chiefs landed a good player and did not take risks by letting Delane fall any further than he did. Mansoor Delane has superstar skills and potential. I expect him to be the best member of the Chiefs' secondary on day one.
Pick 29: Peter Woods - A
Woods was my best available player at pick 29, and the only thing keeping this pick from being an A+ is that there is a slim chance Woods would have made it to pick 40. Since the day he arrived on campus, Peter Woods has shown scouts why he deserves to be a first-round draft pick, and those skills will translate perfectly to the Chiefs roster. A great pick who I think will make an immediate impact on the Chiefs' defensive line this season.
Pick 40: R Mason Thomas - C-
With the Chiefs not picking again for 69 picks, the Chiefs clearly used pick 40 to go out and get their guy. RMT was a lethal pass rusher at Oklahoma who always seemed to show up the most in the biggest moments. But his fit in Kansas City is questionable, and he will need to prove he can consistently hold the edge in the run game.
Thomas's lack of length is a weird fit on the Chiefs' defense, but he brings a pass-rushing juice the Chiefs have really needed for years. I had a third-round grade on Thomas, and I felt the Chiefs could very possibly have used pick 40 to trade down, add more assets, and still have gotten Thomas at the bottom of round two. The skills are all there for RMT, and if the Chiefs can properly scheme him into the defense, he could make this grade look silly.
Pick 109: Jadon Canady - B-
With their fourth consecutive defensive pick to start the draft, the Chiefs landed the top coverage nickel corner in the draft. Canady was one of the stickiest players in the nation in man coverage, and the way he showed up at the Senior Bowl really caught my eye. I had a fourth-round grade on Canady, but the only thing hurting his grade is that I felt there were better slot corners still on the board. With the addition of Delane and Canady alongside Nohl Williams, the Chiefs have one of the best man coverage units in the NFL going forward.
Pick 161: Emmett Johnson - C+
Johnson is a fan favorite out of Nebraska after a season with over 1,800 yards from scrimmage for the Cornhuskers. He has amazing production and is one of the best players in the draft when it comes to breaking tackles and fighting through contact. Johnson grades as my RB 12, largely due to a lack of burst and top-end speed, but his fit in Kansas City is a strong one, and he will complement Kenneth Walker well. The primary thing hurting Johnson's grade is the feeling that the Chiefs could have better used the pick on a receiver or tight end at that given spot.
Pick 176: Cyrus Allen - B-
Allen is one of the best pure route runners in the class and brings a skill set that the Chiefs desperately needed. He has great breakaway speed, which we know Andy Reid will love, and his background with Cincinnati must be appealing to the organization. I personally would have liked to see the Chiefs take a WR slightly earlier in the draft, but Allen brings the skills the Chiefs are looking for at receiver. His early separation skills could help him find the field early in his career.
Pick 249: Garrett Nussmeier - D+
The Chiefs get ahead of free agency and add a depth QB who they were hoping to target after the draft. Many people felt that Nuss slipping this far in the draft was a surprise, and some even had a day-two grade on him. The grade for this pick less so reflects the talent of Nuss and more so the usage of a pick that should be used to get ahead of the UDFA market. The Chiefs have bigger needs than a third-string QB, and this pick could have been better used on a tackle or playmaker. Nuss has the tools to make an impact and could be a great depth QB for years to come.
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