The 2026 NFL Draft is just over a month 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 and No. 29 overall picks on April 23, and for reference, all previous roundups can be found below:
ESPN (Jordan Reid – March 5): Ohio State WR Carnell Tate at No. 9, Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy at No 29
ESPN's Jordan Reid has Kansas City adding multiple skill-position players in Round 1, sending wide receiver Carnell Tate and cornerback Jermod McCoy to the Chiefs.
Here's more from Reid on each pick:
Tate: "Tate is a silky-smooth route runner who has plenty of range as a pass catcher. He also has arguably the best hands in this class, with only one drop on 67 targets last season. He is a three-level threat who displays his polish on all branches of the route tree. While he wasn't as productive in college, Tate reminds me of DeVonta Smith in body type and how they win routes and could be a similar high-end No. 2 receiver in the NFL."
McCoy: "If we're going strictly by talent, McCoy is a top-10 prospect in this class. But he hasn't played a game since 2024, missing all of last season after suffering an ACL tear in January 2025. We're still not sure where he's at in his recovery, as he did not participate in testing or drills at the combine. But McCoy is an easy mover who has squeaky-clean technique. All eyes will be on Tennessee's pro day on March 31, when McCoy is expected to participate in a full workout."
CBS Sports (Josh Edwards – March 13): Miami OT Francis Mauigoa at No. 9, Clemson CB Avieon Terrell at No. 29
CBS Sports' Josh Edwards has the Chiefs upgrading their offensive line and defensive secondary in his latest mock draft, selecting offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa and cornerback Avieon Terrell in Round 1.
Here's a portion of Edwards analysis:
Mauigoa: "Kansas City is not often in a position to pick in the top 10. The Chiefs need to use that opportunity to add a player at a premium position."
Terrell: "Kansas City addresses the position immediately but keeps its options open long term."
USA Today (March 16): Miami OT Francis Mauigoa at No. 9, Tennessee CB Colton Hood at No. 29
Nate Davis and Ayrton Ostly from USA Today have the Chiefs addressing both sides of the ball in their latest mock draft, sending offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa to Kansas City at No. 9 followed by cornerback Colton Hood at No. 29.
Here's more from Davis and Ostly on both selections:
Mauigoa: "A three-year starter for the Hurricanes at right tackle, Mauigoa, a 6-foot-6, 329-pound mauler, could be a long-term solution opposite 2025 first-rounder Josh Simmons."
Hood: "With McDuffie and Watson gone, K.C. gets to work rebuilding its secondary with a guy who should be a plug-and-play starter."
Sports Illustrated (Justin Melo – March 16): LSU CB Mansoor Delane at No. 9, Washington WR Denzel Boston at No. 29
Sports Illustrated's Justin Melo also has the Chiefs bolstering both phases in Round 1, selecting cornerback Mansoor Delane and wide receiver Denzel Boston for Kansas City.
Here's more from Melo:
Delane: "The Kansas City Chiefs traded Trent McDuffie and lost Jaylen Watson to free agency. They'll draft a cornerback early. Mansoor Delane has established himself as the top player at the position. Delane is an athletic corner with scheme versatility."
Boston: "The Chiefs prioritized cornerback earlier. Luckily, there's a wide receiver at No. 29 worth drafting. Denzel Boston is a big-bodied weapon on the perimeter with elite ball skills and a massive catch radius. Boston has straight-line speed with the vertical ability needed to win contested catches."
Pro Football Focus (Gordon McGuinness – March 16): Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey at No. 9, Clemson DT Peter Woods at No. 29
PFF's latest mock draft projects the Chiefs to make multiple additions along their defensive line in Round 1, sending edge-rusher David Bailey and defensive tackle Peter Woods to Kansas City.
Here's more on each pick:
Bailey: "It's unheard of for the Chiefs to be drafting this early in the Mahomes era, so letting the board fall to them and adding a top prospect is the right way to go. Bailey earned a 93.8 PFF pass-rush grade, the best figure in college football, and won 21.6% of his pass-rush reps, a top-15 mark, in 2025."
Woods: "The Chiefs could boost their defensive line again with their second first-round pick, pairing David Bailey with Woods. While the Clemson star's play dropped off somewhat in 2025, he notched an 80.0-plus PFF overall grade in 2023 and 2024."
