For the first time since 2014, the Kansas City Chiefs won't be participating in the playoffs. Fans can now officially turn their attention to the 2026 NFL Draft, where the Chiefs will have a high draft pick for the first time since 2013.
In 2017, the Chiefs ended up drafting Patrick Mahomes 10th overall, but that's after they traded into the spot. They haven't had this high of a pick based on record alone since they had the top overall pick in 2013. It's a wild timeline to live in, but the hope is that Brett Veach can take advantage of a situation that K.C. likely won't find itself in again (at least hopefully not) anytime soon.
So where will the Chiefs be drafting in April? Here's the current draft order, according to Tankathon:
Number | Team | Record | Strength of Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Las Vegas Raiders | 3-14 | .538 |
2 | New York Jets | 3-14 | .552 |
3 | Arizona Cardinals | 3-14 | .571 |
4 | Tennessee Titans | 3-14 | .574 |
5 | New York Giants | 4-13 | .524 |
6 | Cleveland Browns | 5-12 | .486 |
7 | Washington Commanders | 5-12 | .507 |
8 | New Orleans Saints | 6-11 | .495 |
9 | Kansas City Chiefs | 6-11 | .516 |
10 | Cincinnati Bengals | 6-11 | .521 |
Chiefs fans brace for unfamiliar reality with top 10 draft pick
The Chiefs hold the ninth pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and it's a strange feeling for the fan base. The hope now is that Veach can lock down a player who can truly help this team get back to the level we all know they can be at.
The biggest needs are pass rush, wide receiver, running back, tight end, and fine-tuning the secondary. There will be a lot of mock drafts linking the Chiefs to Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, and it makes sense as to why, but Kansas City will need to determine if it believes spending that high of a pick on a running back is worth the risk. Other names often linked to the Chiefs at this point include Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods, Arizona State wideout Jordyn Tyson, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, and Miami edge Ruben Bain Jr.
Not being in the playoffs will be weird but Chiefs fans will now zero in on the draft. It'll be a massive offseason for this franchise and let's hope Veach is up to the task of getting the most bang for his buck with the ninth overall pick.