The 2026 NFL Draft is just a few weeks 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:
NFL.com (Lance Zierlein – March 31): Utah OT Spencer Fano at No. 9, Washington WR Denzel Boston at No. 29
Lance Zierlein from NFL.com sent the Chiefs a pair of offensive players in his latest mock, going with offensive tackle Spencer Fano and wide receiver Denzel Boston.
Here's what Zierlein wrote about the picks:
Fano: "The Chiefs stick with their best-available mindset and add a polished, athletic offensive lineman who can step into the right tackle spot or bump inside in the future if need be."
Boston: "The Chiefs target another position of need and grab a big, ball-winning target to add more firepower to the offense."
NFL.com (Nick Shook – April 2): LSU CB Mansoor Delane at No. 9, Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq at No. 29
NFL.com's Nick Shook elected to go with a popular choice at No. 9 – cornerback Mansoor Delane – before sending the top tight end on the board, Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq, to Kansas City at No. 29.
Here's more from Shook:
Delane: "General manager Brett Veach immediately addresses the need by taking the most consistent corner in this class. With the ability to erase an opposing top target and get involved in defending the run, Delane should do his best to replace McDuffie's impact."
Sadiq: "Cornerback could use an addition, but GM Brett Veach can't pass up the opportunity to add a freakishly athletic TE to a team that has won championships in part by relying on the position."
ESPN (Peter Schrager – April 7): Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson at No. 9, Tennessee CB Colton Hood at No. 29
ESPN's Peter Schrager sent the Chiefs a player on each side of the ball in his latest mock draft, going with wide receiver Jordyn Tyson and cornerback Colton Hood.
Here's what Schrager wrote about each pick:
Tyson: "With a top-10 pick for the first time since 2017 -- when the Chiefs took some guy named Patrick Mahomes -- Kansas City can go in a variety of directions here. Cornerback and edge rusher are certainly options. I still think finding offensive playmakers is a major priority, though, especially with Mahomes coming off the ACL injury. Tyson pops more than any other receiver in this draft class; he just needs to stay healthy."
Hood: "Hood was highly productive last season, with 10 pass breakups despite Jermod McCoy being out of the lineup opposite him…Hood -- the nephew of former pro Roderick Hood -- brings a pro-style mentality and a knack for being around the ball."
NFL.com (Rhett Lewis – April 7): LSU CB Mansoor Delane, Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor at No. 29
Rhett Lewis from NFL.com has the Chiefs bolstering their secondary in his latest mock, sending cornerback Mansoor Delane to Kansas City, before going with an offensive tackle – Max Iheanachor – at No. 29.
Here's what Lewis had to say about each pick:
Delane: "After trading Trent McDuffie to the Rams in March, the Chiefs find a new core piece in the secondary with the best corner in this year's class."
Iheanachor: "A Senior Bowl standout, Arizona State's Iheanachor boasts big-time potential with the Chiefs."
CBS Sports (Garrett Podell – April 8): Ohio State LB Sonny Styles at No. 9, Tennessee CB Colton Hood at No. 29
CBS Sports' Garrett Podell has the Chiefs going with consecutive defensive picks in his latest mock, choosing linebacker Sonny Styles and cornerback Colton Hood for Kansas City.
Here's more from Podell:
Styles: "Sonny Styles would provide a much-needed shot of athleticism and playmaking. Linebacker Leo Chenal left for the Washington Commanders in free agency. They also lost both Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to the Los Angeles Rams, but general manager Brett Veach will draft the player at the top of his board."
Hood: "After losing both Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to the Rams, the Chiefs draft a replacement in Colton Hood, the SEC's only player with an interception return touchdown and a fumble return touchdown in 2025. Hood was also the only SEC player with four-plus tackles for loss and eight-plus passes defended last season. That's the kind of playmaking Steve Spagnuolo will enjoy."
Yahoo! Sports (Nate Tice & Charles McDonald - April 8): Ohio State S Caleb Downs at No. 9, Florida DT Caleb Banks at No. 29
The duo of Nate Tice and Charles McDonald alternated making selections in their latest mock. McDonald, who made the odd-numbered selections, has Kansas City bolstering their defense with a pair of Calebs, sending safety Caleb Downs and defensive tackle Caleb Banks to the Chiefs.
Here's what McDonald wrote about the selections:
Downs: "Downs is arguably the best player in this year's draft class, so getting him with the ninth pick to bolster a secondary that lost some talent would be a smart play. He's the exact kind of talent that would thrive in Steve Spagnuolo's defense as playmaker wherever he's asked to play. He can instantly be one of the best safeties in the league, a necessary weapon for a weaker Chiefs secondary to have as they retool."
Banks: "The idea of what he can be if he improves his tackling ability should be enough to get him into the first round, especially if he can pick up tips from Chris Jones, who would be playing next to him in this scenario."
CBS Sports (Josh Edwards – April 9): Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. at No. 9, San Diego State CB Chris Johnson at No. 29
Josh Edwards from CBS Sports has the Chiefs doubling up on defense in Round 1, sending edge-rusher Rueben Bain and cornerback Chris Johnson to Kansas City.
Here's more from Edwards:
Bain: "Andy Reid spent time around Brandon Graham in Philadelphia so there's some comfort with pass rushers who possess a less-than-ideal frame."
Johnson: "There are likely at least 40 prospects, and potentially more, who could hear their names called in the first round in the right set of circumstances. Chris Johnson is on that list. He is a prospect who grew on me over time. He has the size and tested really well, but the tape is really clean also."
USA Today (Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz – April 13): LSU CB Mansoor Delane at No. 9, UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence at No. 29
USA Today's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz has the Chiefs making a pair of defensive selections as well, penciling in cornerback Mansoor Delane and edge-rusher Malachi Lawrence as Kansas City's selections.
Here's what Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote about each pick:
Delane: "Edge rusher remains the most pressing area of concern for Kansas City's defense, but a team that seldom finds itself drafting this high seems unlikely to compromise on value given the various avenues available. Delane could become the new staple for a Chiefs secondary that has repeatedly managed to pivot after parting with top talent."
Lawrence: "Once considered somewhat of a sleeper, Lawrence might be set to take on a more prominent role in the draft than many initially expected. Long and explosive, he fits the bill of a Steve Spagnuolo pass rusher and could allow Kansas City's front to become less reliant on Chris Jones and George Karlaftis."
