The Kansas City Chiefs will end the 2025 season in Week 18, with a road game against the Las Vegas Raiders. For the first time in a long time, the franchise won’t be apart of the NFL playoffs, and instead have a chance to land a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. While high draft picks are a result of losing seasons, Kansas City has the chance to put together a class that could help it get back to the top.
The Chiefs will also have something else they don’t usually have: time to really dive in on all the prospects. Speaking with the media recently, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo admitted that in recent years, he has entered combine meetings knowing very little about the guys he was talking to, because all of his focus had been on winning a Super Bowl. With no playoffs for Kansas City this year, Spagnuolo and the rest of the coaching staff will be able to do some extensive scouting.
Chiefs' DC Steve Spagnuolo made some interesting comments about having time off before the draft.
— Mark Poulose (@MarkPoulose) December 29, 2025
"I can remember going to a number of these combines recently where I knew very little about the guys that we were sitting and talking to ... Now, you have a little bit of an idea"👀 pic.twitter.com/Z2J47eqag1
Steve Spagnuolo admits he’ll learn more about draft prospects without playoffs
Of course, teams have entire departments of scouts, who spend all year looking at draftable prospects, but those individuals aren’t coaches. Like scouts, coaches also have specific things they look for in players, and having an idea of who these prospects are could make a huge difference in how the combine meetings unfold. That could also show up on draft weekend when it’s time to actually add players to the organization.
Hopefully, it will. The Chiefs are at a crossroads as a franchise, with many people outside the team declaring that the dynasty is over. Whether that’s true or not will be determined by what Kansas City does next. The Chiefs certainly had a down year, and they’re undoubtedly entering a new era. However, the dynasty will only be over if the team can’t bounce back next season.
In order to bounce back, Kansas City has to retool it’s roster. That will start in free agency, but the team will really build for the next era of Chiefs football in the 2026 Draft, which Kansas City can now start preparing for, as an organization, much earlier than it usually does.