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:
NFL.com (Daniel Jeremiah – January 26): Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.
Daniel Jeremiah from NFL.com has the Chiefs taking an edge-rusher at No. 9 overall in Miami’s Reuben Bain, who racked up 8.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles-for-loss in 2025. Here’s what Jeremiah wrote about the pick:
“Bain is my favorite fit for the Chiefs. Andy Reid has always had an appreciation for players with a junkyard-dog mentality like Bain possesses, having coached Trent Cole and Brandon Graham in Philadelphia.”
The Ringer (January 28): Clemson DT Peter Woods
Danny Kelly from The Ringer also has the Chiefs adding to their defensive front at pick No. 9, but instead of an edge defender, Kelly sent a versatile interior lineman to Kansas City in Clemson’s Peter Woods.
Here’s a portion of what Kelly wrote about Woods:
“The Chiefs look to get younger and more explosive on the defensive front with this pick. Woods has great acceleration, disrupts the pocket, and makes life hard for opposing offensive linemen. He’ll give defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo a versatile playmaker to deploy from multiple spots.”
CBS Sports (Blake Brockermeyer – January 26): Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk
CBS Sports’ Blake Brockermeyer sent a defensive lineman to Kansas City in his latest mock as well, penciling in Auburn edge-rusher Keldric Faulk at No. 9 overall. Another versatile pass-rusher, Faulk possesses a rare combination of size and length that could work well within Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme.
Here’s more from Brockermeyer:
“Keldric Faulk has ideal size, length and the ability to rush from anywhere along the front. His stats don’t tell the full story given the attention he drew, but he still finished with 30 hurries. He’s a slippery rusher with a good get-off and excellent hands, and he’s solid against the run with the ability to set the edge and knock back tackles.”
ESPN (Mel Kiper Jr – January 21): Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
ESPN’s Mel Kiper went with an offensive player to Kansas City in his first mock of the year, sending Notre Dame tailback Jeremiyah Love to the Chiefs. Love, who Kiper currently has as his No. 2 overall player, rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2025.
Here’s what Kiper had to say about the pick:
“You could see it, right? The Chiefs make their first pick in the top 10 since they took Patrick Mahomes at No. 10 in 2017 and promptly use the selection to get a game-changing running back to pair with their star quarterback? Improving the run game could open up the offense in a big way.”