Feb. 15, 2026, 10:07 p.m. CT
The Kansas City Chiefs will get a chance to add elite young prospects to their roster during the 2026 NFL Draft, but pundits are split on which position the team should target with its early picks.
While the possibilities are endless, the experts at Pro Football Network settled on a strategy that would see the Chiefs take a top defensive lineman in Round 1 before addressing their offensive needs on Day 2.
Take a look at PFN’s latest mock draft to get a sense of how Kansas City might approach the draft in April:
Round 1, Pick No. 9: Florida Gators DL Caleb Banks
“Just how high can Caleb Banks go in the 2026 NFL Draft? That’s the golden question this year. He has a medical history to vet, he doesn’t have a large sample size of production, and his pad level can be inconsistent. But at the end of the day, pit him against other noteworthy prospects, and his superlative physical tools make the difference.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.
“At the Senior Bowl, Banks eviscerated ill-suited athletes in 1-on-1s with his hyper-elite explosiveness, off-setting agility and twitch, and forceful hand power at 6’6″, 335 pounds, with 35” arms.
“Banks is the rare elite-sized threat who can be used all across the formation, and in Kansas City, he might function better from 3-tech and outside, where he’ll have longer runways to acquire leverage and gear up. And in the long term, he provides insurance for Chris Jones, who turns 32 this offseason.”
Round 2, Pick No. 40: Georgia State Panthers WR Ted Hurst
“At 6’3″, 207 pounds, with 33″ arms, Ted Hurst is the exact kind of size threat and coverage-diverse separator the Chiefs need. He’s smooth, explosive, and quick to sink and retract on breaks, and at the Senior Bowl, he acquitted himself well against press coverage.”
“The Chiefs need a new volume back, and Kaytron Allen fits the profile at 5’11”, 220 pounds. Though he’s not overly explosive, he’s instinctive, physical, and flexible, with excellent footwork, balance, and lower-body load.”
Round 4, Pick No. 109: Baylor Bears TE Michael Trigg
