The NFL Draft is two weeks away, which means it’s a good time to take a big-picture look at the Kansas City Chiefs’ roster.

Let’s go over the team’s current depth chart, with an eye toward each position’s draft outlook.

Quarterbacks

Starter: Patrick Mahomes

Backup: Justin Fields

Still need: Future clarity on Mahomes’ knee. Coach Andy Reid continued positive reports regarding Mahomes’ knee rehab during last week’s NFL annual meeting, so it’s still probable that the QB could return for his previously stated Week 1 goal. If Mahomes does have a setback, though, Reid said he’ll feel confident with Fields, whom he views as “more than a gadget guy.”

Draft outlook: It would be a shock if K.C. used any draft pick on a quarterback.

Running backs

Starter: Kenneth Walker III

Backups: Emari Demercado, Brashard Smith

Still need: Another young back and/or a short-yardage ace. The Chiefs certainly addressed their deficiencies with explosive runs by adding top free agent Walker, along with less-heralded home-run hitter Demercado. Second-year player Smith will benefit by adding more strength this offseason, per Reid’s request, but they still seem like they’re a body or two short here with third-and-short specialist Kareem Hunt remaining a free agent.

Draft outlook: This is a super-thin draft for running backs, but the Chiefs certainly could use a mid-round selection on one or sift through the undrafted free-agent pool as they look to round out the roster.

Tight ends

Starter: Travis Kelce

Backups: Noah Gray, Jared Wiley, Jake Briningstool

Still need: A potential Kelce heir, and maybe a blocking tight end? A “Kelce heir” remains a luxury item, as the Chiefs have more glaring roster needs outside of looking toward 2027 and beyond. There’s also this: Tight end remains a position that typically develops later than other spots, meaning shopping in free agency might be a better use of resources than the draft. In any case, this will be an important offseason for Wiley, who hasn’t produced much following two injury-filled years, and Briningstool, a 2025 undrafted free agent who basically took a 2025 redshirt while recovering from a hamstring issue. K.C. also went without a true blocking tight end last season, and it was noticeable as the team’s multiple tight-end sets weren’t as potent as in previous seasons.

Draft outlook: I took part in a recent mock draft in which flashy Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq fell to Kansas City with the 29th pick. Could the Chiefs really pass on him if he were there? Beyond that, the Chiefs should have plenty of mid-round tight end options available, especially if they are looking for a rugged blocker.

Could the Chiefs select Ohio State’s Carnell Tate or another wide receiver in the first round of this month’s draft? (Luke Hales / Getty Images)

Wide receivers

Starters: Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton

Backups: Jalen Royals, Nikko Remigio

Still need: A QB-friendly option for Mahomes. The team’s long-term prospects at wideout aren’t as secure as one might think. Rice is in the last year of his rookie deal, and his consistent off-the-field issues will make a long-term extension a tough sell. Worthy is due for a bounce-back after having his route tree limited following last year’s shoulder injury, while Reid said he envisions a bigger role for Thornton with a less-crowded room.

Draft outlook: The Chiefs should address receiver in the first two rounds of the draft, based on how things fall. They could aim high for top-end talent like Ohio State’s Carnell Tate or USC’s Makai Lemon at No. 9, or choose to take advantage of the draft’s depth at the position while waiting for a potential still-high-upside target with the 29th or 40th pick. General manager Brett Veach and Reid tend to gravitate toward shorter, speedier receivers, but they also could diversify here while hoping an outside guy could help the team’s deficiencies against man coverage and in the red zone.

Offensive line

Starters: Josh Simmons, Kingsley Suamataia, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jaylon Moore

Backups: Esa Pole, Hunter Nourzad, Mike Caliendo, Wanya Morris

Still need: More security at tackle. The Chiefs have invested massively in their offensive line in recent years, so taking a first-round tackle doesn’t make sense unless they’re forced into an unforeseen scenario. It wouldn’t be awful to add a depth piece here, though, just in case things play out like last season, when the team required multiple players to make it to the end.

Draft outlook: This likely depends on the internal evaluation of Pole, a 2025 undrafted free agent who was forced into four starts last season because of the team’s other injuries. If the Chiefs believe in Pole’s potential as a swing tackle in 2026 — and potential starter when Moore’s contract runs out in 2027 — then K.C. could elect to skip offensive line in this draft altogether.

Defensive line

Starters: George Karlaftis, Chris Jones, Khyiris Tonga, Ashton Gillotte

Backups: Omarr Norman-Lott, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Zacch Pickens

Still need: At least one edge rusher and one defensive tackle. The Chiefs should expect more from Karlaftis in 2026 after he labored through a thumb injury last season, while Gillotte also should be on an uptick after earning the team’s top rookie honor. The reliable depth ends there, though, as 2023 first-round pick Anudike-Uzomah is a wild card after missing so much time with injuries. At defensive tackle, they covered themselves somewhat by adding run-stopping Tonga, but that shouldn’t stop them from attempting to fill that position long term. It’s also not too early to prepare for life after Jones, an All-Pro who will turn 32 before the season begins.

Draft outlook: K.C. appears to be in a good position to address defensive line needs with its early picks. Edge rusher is one of this draft’s deepest positions, so the Chiefs could get a potential star at No. 9 or remain patient to still get a starter-type player in Round 2. The best defensive tackles are projected to go between picks 25-50, meaning Veach and Reid could have the chance to get the guy they covet with either the 29th or 40th selection.

Linebackers

Starters: Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill

Backups: Cooper McDonald, Jack Cochrane, Jeffrey Bassa, Cole Christiansen

Still need: A glance toward the future. The Chiefs might be more set at linebacker than any other position entering 2026, but that doesn’t mean they won’t draft one. That’s mostly because of Bolton’s contract status; they can save $15 million against their cap if they choose to move on from him before the 2027 season.

Draft outlook: My last Chiefs big board at least pondered the question: Could Missouri’s Josiah Trotter make sense for the team in Round 3? Josiah’s father, Jeremiah, was a Pro Bowl player for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo with the Philadelphia Eagles, and Josiah’s instincts and run-stopping ability have already earned him comparisons to Bolton.

Secondary

Starters: Nohl Williams, Chamarri Conner, Alohi Gilman, Kristian Fulton, Kader Kohou

Backups: Chris Roland-Wallace, Kaiir Elam, Jaden Hicks, Kevin Knowles

Still need: More clay for the coaches. Spagnuolo and defensive backs coach Dave Merritt have become an NFL cheat code of sorts for the Chiefs, turning less-celebrated secondary players into productive ones. They could stand to add a rookie cornerback in the draft, but given Spagnuolo and Merritt’s track record, the team shouldn’t have to force a first-round pick for this need.

Draft outlook: The spot where the Chiefs take a corner could entirely depend on what happens in the draft ahead of them. If the board goes against them, they could talk themselves into LSU’s Mansoor Delane at No. 9. And if Clemson’s Avieon Terrell — a Trent McDuffie clone — falls to 29? He could be an option there, too. Most likely, however, the Chiefs will wait until the middle rounds to address this position, as they have in past seasons.

Specialists

Starters: K Harrison Butker, P Matt Araiza, LS James Winchester

Backups: None

Still need: A more consistent Butker. The Chiefs are tied to Butker in 2026 because of his contract extension details, but he’ll need to show more consistency on field goals and kickoffs to solidify a longer future in K.C.

Draft outlook: The Chiefs are set at these spots for 2026 and shouldn’t need competition unless something goes wrong.