The 2026 NFL Draft is just a few months away, and as the league prepares to gather in Pittsburgh on April 23, the football-watching world is rife with mock drafts and projections as to how the first round will play out.
Here's a look at who some of the latest mock drafts from around the web have the Chiefs selecting with the No. 9 overall pick on April 23, and for reference, all previous roundups can be found below:
NFL.com (Gennaro Filice – February 20): Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson
Gennaro Filice from NFL.com went with Arizona State Jordyn Tyson to Kansas City at No. 9 overall. Here's more from Filice:
"From a pure size/skills perspective, this feels like the most complete receiver in another deep class at the position. A refined route runner with alignment versatility, Tyson routinely dunks on defenders downfield, but he also possesses the YAC ability to turn short passes into long gains."
ESPN (Mel Kiper Jr. – February 24): Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
Just as he did in his previous mock draft, Kiper sent Notre Dame tailback Jeremiyah Love to Kansas City at No. 9 overall. Here's what Kiper wrote about the pick:
"Love is No. 2 on my Big Board, showcasing elite-level vision and burst. He can make a house call any time he touches the ball, and with his hands out of the backfield, he can stick on the field on third down…Love -- who had 1,372 rushing yards and 18 rushing TDs in 2025 -- could bring a whole new element to the Kansas City offense."
NFL.com (Bucky Brooks – February 24): Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
NFL.com's Bucky Brooks opted to send Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate to Kansas City in his latest mock draft. Here's what Brooks wrote about the pick:
"The acrobatic pass catcher could add another dimension to the Chiefs' passing game as a big-play threat. Tate's speed and explosion would enable Kansas City to run various combination routes with Xavier Worthy and the Ohio State standout creating and exploiting mismatches on the perimeter."
FOX Sports (Henry McKenna – February 26): Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
FOX Sports' Henry McKenna sent Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate to Kansas City in the first round. Here's a portion of McKenna's analysis, which was simple enough:
"The Chiefs invest yet again in their passing game to support quarterback Patrick Mahomes."
Yahoo! Sports (Charles McDonald and Nate Tice – March 2): Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
The duo of McDonald and Tice took turns making picks in their latest mock draft, and Tice – whose turn fell on the No. 9 overall selection – sent Notre Dame tailback Jeremiyah Love to Kansas City.
Here's a portion of what Tice wrote about the pick:
"Love behind a Chiefs offensive line that could end up being one of the league's better units and in an Andy Reid screen game has me salivating."
CBS Sports (Ryan Wilson - March 2): Utah OT Spencer Fano
CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson elected to go with an offensive lineman at No. 9 overall, sending versatile Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano to Kansas City. Here's more from Wilson:
"Now they'll have two young bookend tackles as they look to reassert themselves in the AFC West."
USA Today (March 2): Utah OT Spencer Fano
The folks at USA Today chose Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano for Kansas City with the No. 9 overall pick. Here's what they wrote about Fano, who compiled an excellent performance at the NFL Scouting Combine over the weekend:
"Fano, who played both tackle spots for the Utes and showed standout athleticism at the combine, could lock down the post opposite 2025 first-rounder Josh Simmons."
Pro Football Focus (Trevor Sikkema – March 2): Florida DT Caleb Banks
Trevor Sikkema from PFF has the Chiefs bolstering the interior of their defensive front at No. 9 overall, sending Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks to Kansas City.
Here's more on Banks from Sikkema:
"Banks has been one of the most consistent risers throughout the draft process, mainly due to being a "faller" during the season since he was limited by a foot injury. At the Senior Bowl and now at the combine, he displayed impressive athletic ability with massive size. He's in the top-15 conversations as the top defensive tackle in the class. He could be very hard to stop next to Chris Jones."
Sports Illustrated (Justin Melo – March 2): Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq
Justin Melo from Sports Illustrated sent Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq to the Chiefs with the No. 9 overall selection. Here's what Melo wrote about Sadiq, who ran the fastest 40-yard dash by a tight end at the NFL Scouting Combine since at least 2003 last week:
"Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq was a top-three standout at the NFL Combine. Sadiq made modern-day combine history by leaping a 43.5 inch vertical, 11-foot-1 broad jump, and running an unfathomable 4.39 in the 40 at 241 pounds."
