A season that never quite found its footing has forced Kansas City into unfamiliar territory.
At 6–8 and officially eliminated from playoff contention for the first time in over a decade, the 2025 campaign exposed cracks in a roster that has long relied on elite quarterback play to mask inefficiencies elsewhere. The offense too often asked one player to be the solution, while the defense lacked consistent juice off the edge and long-term answers at several premium positions.
Now, as the Chiefs pivot toward the 2026 NFL Draft, the focus shifts toward balance, sustainability, and injecting young, high-end talent that can reshape both sides of the football without forcing a complete reset.
While much will change before we get to April, with scheme fit, personal evaluation, and conversations with scouts across football in mind, here is an early look at where GM Brett Veach and company could go come April.
Round 1 (No. 11 overall): Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The premier ball-carrier in the draft and a top three player for me in the class, Love has the potential to be a legit difference-maker in the backfield. He can run through contact, win on the perimeter, and punish defenses that overplay the pass, creating a more balanced offensive structure, and pairing him with Patrick Mahomes immediately reduces his burden to do everything while opening up play-action and spacing. He's a heck of a ballplayer that, for me, has a shot to become one of football's most dynamic offensive playmakers.
Round 2 (No. 43 overall): Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
A powerful and productive sack artist (11 sacks in 2025), Jacas brings legitimate pop to the edge after four strong seasons in the Big Ten. His physicality and motor would fit seamlessly alongside George Karlaftis and Chris Jones, giving the Chiefs another front-four presence capable of collapsing pockets without heavy blitz reliance.
Round 3 (No. 75 overall): Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor
With Travis Kelce nearing the end of his career and set to hit free agency, more pop is needed at the flex spot. Enter Trigg, a former blue-chip recruit with stops at USC and Ole Miss who can stretch the seam and also serve as an immediate red zone target hog.
While the consensus has centered around adding a prospect like Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon) on night one, waiting to draft a player like Trigg who, for me, has as high a ceiing as any TE in the class, could be good business.
His athletic profile expands the playbook and provides a long-term answer at one of the most important positions within an offense.
Round 4 (No. 125 overall): Duce Robinson, WR, Florida State
Robinson brings a physical element to a wide receiver room built largely on speed and separation. At his best, Robinson profiles as an X receiver who can win on the boundary, fight through contact, and present a true size mismatch at 6-foot-6.
With Mahomes distributing the football, the value of adding a big-bodied target on Day 3 is significant, especially for an offense seeking more versatility in the red zone and on third down.
Round 5 (No. 150 overall): Jalen Kilgore, CB, South Carolina
Often overshadowed by teammate Brandon Cisse, Kilgore quietly brings an appealing skill set to the corners room. He is patient in man coverage, plays with physicality, and shows excellent patience and discipline downfield. Kilgore projects as a rotational defender early on, with the upside to grow into a larger role as Kansas City continues to rebuild depth and competition on the outside.
Round 6 (No. 189 overall): Earnest Greene III, OT, Georgia
A big, physical hog-mollie up front, Greene offers positional flexibility with the ability to kick inside to guard if needed. His lower-body strength and linear power allow him to generate movement at the point of attack, which would also pair well with a downhill runner like Love.
Early on, the Georgia product in Greene provides developmental value and depth in the trenches, an area that quietly shapes the ceiling of this offense.
Round 6 (No. 205 overall): Bud Clark, S, TCU
Clark is an experienced, mature DB who brings physicality and downhill aggression to the secondary. While he may not project as a full-time starter, Clark’s instincts and toughness make him a strong candidate for early special teams contributions and rotational snaps.
Round 6 (No. 212 overall): Princewill Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
Doubling down on pass rush here with Umanmielen, a productive SEC edge defender with NFL bloodlines. His brother, Princely, is already in the league (Carolina) and Princewill's best football still appears ahead of him, a positive sign for Veach.
Adding another rusher reinforces the idea that you can never have enough players who can win in isolation, keeping the defense aggressive without overexposing the secondary.