The 2026 NFL Draft is less than 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:
Yahoo! Sports (Nate Tice & Charles McDonald – March 18): Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. at No. 9, Tennessee CB Colton Hood at No. 29
The duo of Nate Tice and Charles McDonald alternated making picks in their latest mock draft, with Tice (who made the odd-numbered picks) sending pass-rusher Rueben Bain and cornerback Colton Hood to Kansas City.
Here's what Tice wrote about the selections:
Bain: "Kansas City takes five seconds to turn this pick in. By the luck of the draw, one of the most disruptive defensive ends in college football falls into the Chiefs' lap as they try to re-infuse premier talent into their defense. Bain would be a perfect fit in Steve Spagnuolo's defense and form a productive trio alongside Chris Jones and George Karlaftis."
Hood: "Here they can take a dice roll on the talented Hood, who would have plenty of chances to make plays on the ball with Chris Jones and the previously mock-drafted Rueben Bain Jr. getting after the quarterback."
NFL.com (Eric Edholm – March 19): LSU CB Mansoor Delane at No. 9, UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence at No. 29
Eric Edholm from NFL.com made a couple of additions to the Chiefs' defense in his latest mock, sending cornerback Mansoor Delane and edge-rusher Malachi Lawrence to Kansas City.
Here's more from Edholm:
Delane: "Delane is a press-man corner who gets physical in the run game, too. That's what coordinator Steve Spagnuolo seeks at the position."
Lawrence: "Lawrence has been a hot name in the pre-draft process. With his length, size and explosiveness (40-inch vertical, 10-10 broad jump, 1.59-second 10-yard split), the UCF product fits K.C.'s benchmarks for an edge rusher."
NFL.com (Bucky Brooks – March 24): Miami OT Francis Mauigoa at No. 9, Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq at No. 29
NFL.com's Bucky Brooks has the Chiefs adding to their offense in Round 1, bolstering the offensive line with tackle Francis Mauigoa before selecting tight end Kenyon Sadiq at No. 29.
Here's what Brooks wrote about each pick:
Mauigoa: "The Chiefs could prioritize finding a long-term solution at right tackle in the 2026 draft. Mauigoa is a terrific option as a heavy-handed edge blocker with quick feet and a nasty temperament."
Sadiq: "Sadiq's ultra-athletic game would be a boon to Patrick Mahomes, allowing the quarterback to continue attacking the middle of the field for the foreseeable future."
ESPN (Field Yates – March 24): Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson at No. 9, Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell at No. 29
ESPN's Field Yates expects the Chiefs to bolster both sides of the ball in his latest mock, sending wide receiver Jordyn Tyson to Kansas City at No. 9, followed by Texas A&M edge-rusher Cashius Howell at No. 29.
Here's more from Yates:
Tyson: "Tyson is the most explosive wide receiver in the draft and neck and neck with Carnell Tate for WR1 in my rankings. He has very good size, acceleration, unique run-after-catch skills and field-stretching ability."
Howell: "Howell was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year after racking up 11.5 sacks in 2025, displaying an excellent first step, ability to bend the edge and closing speed. He lacks the optimal length for an edge rusher with just 30¼-inch arms, but that is offset by his ability to get underneath and around offensive tackles."
NFL.com (Charles Davis – March 26): Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. at No. 9, Tennessee CB Colton Hood at No. 29
Charles Davis from NFL.com has the Chiefs doubling up on defense in Round 1, adding Miami pass-rusher Rueben Bain and Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood.
Here's more from Davis on each pick:
Bain: "Grit, resolve and physicality are baked into Bain's DNA."
Hood: "Hood fills a need, adding toughness and coverage ability. Defensive backs coach Dave Merritt is one of the best in the game."
CBS Sports (Josh Edwards – March 26): Utah OT Spencer Fano at No. 9, Clemson CB Avieon Terrell at No. 29
CBS Sports' Josh Edwards went with a pick on each side of the ball in his latest mock, selecting Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano to Kansas City at No. 9, followed by Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell at No. 29.
Here's a portion of what Edwards wrote about each pick:
Fano: "The Chiefs are not often in a position to add a premium talent in the top 10 overall. It is not a flashy addition, but they are filling the roster with another pick in the round."
Terrell: "Nohl Williams showed a lot of promise during his rookie season and Kristian Fulton, Kader Kohou have been serviceable when healthy. If everything goes as planned, the Chiefs may already be able to absorb the losses of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson…Avieon Terrell gives them some positional flexibility as well as insurance in the event not everything DOES go as planned."
ESPN (Matt Miller – March 30): Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. at No. 9, Clemson CB Avieon Terrell at No. 29
Matt Miller from ESPN has Kansas City selecting Miami edge-rusher Rueben Bain at No. 9 and Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell at No. 29 in his full, seven-round mock.
Here's what Miller wrote about each selection:
Bain: "Bain would immediately start opposite George Karlaftis and has the inside/outside alignment versatility that Steve Spagnuolo has typically preferred. With 71 pressures and 9.5 sacks in 2025, Bain has the strength, speed and production to make teams overlook his sub-standard 30⅞-inch arm length. The Chiefs don't normally get a chance to pick this high, so this is a rare opportunity to grab a blue-chip prospect at a high-value position."
Terrell: "The younger brother of Falcons' cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr., [Terrell has the] ability to play inside or outside. He had three interceptions at Clemson while allowing only 4.4 yards per attempt when targeted by opposing quarterbacks."
CBS Sports (Ryan Wilson – March 30): Ohio State S Caleb Downs at No. 9, Oklahoma EDGE R Mason Thomas at No. 29
CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson has the Chiefs making a pair of defensive additions in his latest mock, sending safety Caleb Downs and pass-rusher R Mason Thomas to Kansas City.
Here's more from Wilson:
Downs: "Downs is a culture changer, though in Kansas City the culture is in pretty good shape. The secondary needs some restocking and Downs, who gives me Troy Polamalu vibes, has a chance to be truly special."
Thomas: "Thomas' arms measure shorter than 32 inches ... and no one should care. We all overthought it with Nik Bonitto, a second-rounder currently playing like one of the best pass rushers in football. The Chiefs need some juice off the edge, and that's exactly what Thomas brings to the party."
