Draft outlook:\u00a0It would be a shock if K.C. used any draft pick on a quarterback.<\/p>\n
Running backs<\/p>\n
Starter: Kenneth Walker III<\/p>\n
Backups: Emari Demercado, Brashard Smith<\/p>\n
Still need:\u00a0Another young back and\/or a short-yardage ace. The Chiefs certainly addressed their deficiencies with explosive runs by adding top free agent Walker<\/a>, along with less-heralded home-run hitter Demercado. Second-year player Smith will benefit by adding more strength this offseason, per Reid\u2019s request, but they still seem like they\u2019re a body or two short here with third-and-short specialist Kareem Hunt remaining a free agent.<\/p>\n Draft outlook:\u00a0This 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.<\/p>\n Tight ends<\/p>\n Starter: Travis Kelce<\/p>\n Backups: Noah Gray, Jared Wiley, Jake Briningstool<\/p>\n Still need:\u00a0A potential Kelce heir, and maybe a blocking tight end? A \u201cKelce heir\u201d remains a luxury item, as the Chiefs have more glaring roster needs outside of looking toward 2027 and beyond. There\u2019s 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\u2019t 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\u2019s multiple tight-end sets weren\u2019t as potent as in previous seasons.<\/p>\n Draft outlook:\u00a0I 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.<\/p>\n \n Could the Chiefs select Ohio State\u2019s Carnell Tate or another wide receiver in the first round of this month\u2019s draft? (Luke Hales \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n Wide receivers<\/p>\n Starters: Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton<\/p>\n Backups: Jalen Royals, Nikko Remigio<\/p>\n Still need:\u00a0A QB-friendly option for Mahomes. The team\u2019s long-term prospects at wideout aren\u2019t 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<\/a> following last year\u2019s shoulder injury, while Reid said he envisions a bigger role for Thornton with a less-crowded room.<\/p>\n Draft outlook:\u00a0The 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\u2019s Carnell Tate or USC\u2019s Makai Lemon at No. 9, or choose to take advantage of the draft\u2019s 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\u2019s deficiencies against man coverage and in the red zone.<\/p>\n Offensive line<\/p>\n Starters: Josh Simmons, Kingsley Suamataia, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jaylon Moore<\/p>\n Backups: Esa Pole, Hunter Nourzad, Mike Caliendo, Wanya Morris<\/p>\n Still need:\u00a0More security at tackle. The Chiefs have invested massively in their offensive line in recent years, so taking a first-round tackle doesn\u2019t make sense unless they\u2019re forced into an unforeseen scenario. It wouldn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n Draft outlook:\u00a0This 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\u2019s other injuries. If the Chiefs believe in Pole\u2019s potential as a swing tackle in 2026 \u2014 and potential starter when Moore\u2019s contract runs out in 2027 \u2014 then K.C. could elect to skip offensive line in this draft altogether.<\/p>\n Defensive line<\/p>\n Starters: George Karlaftis, Chris Jones, Khyiris Tonga, Ashton Gillotte<\/p>\n Backups: Omarr Norman-Lott, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Zacch Pickens<\/p>\n Still need:\u00a0At 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\u2019s 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\u2019t stop them from attempting to fill that position long term. It\u2019s also not too early to prepare for life after Jones, an All-Pro who will turn 32 before the season begins.<\/p>\n Draft outlook:\u00a0K.C. appears to be in a good position to address defensive line needs with its early picks. Edge rusher is one of this draft\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Linebackers<\/p>\n Starters: Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill<\/p>\n Backups: Cooper McDonald, Jack Cochrane, Jeffrey Bassa, Cole Christiansen<\/p>\n Still need:\u00a0A glance toward the future. The Chiefs might be more set at linebacker than any other position entering 2026, but that doesn\u2019t mean they won\u2019t draft one. That\u2019s mostly because of Bolton\u2019s contract status; they can save $15 million against their cap<\/a> if they choose to move on from him before the 2027 season.<\/p>\n Draft outlook:\u00a0My last Chiefs big board at least pondered the question: Could Missouri\u2019s Josiah Trotter make sense for the team in Round 3? Josiah\u2019s father, Jeremiah, was a Pro Bowl player for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo with the Philadelphia Eagles, and Josiah\u2019s instincts and run-stopping ability have already earned him comparisons to Bolton<\/a>.<\/p>\n Secondary<\/p>\n Starters: Nohl Williams, Chamarri Conner, Alohi Gilman, Kristian Fulton, Kader Kohou<\/p>\n Backups: Chris Roland-Wallace, Kaiir Elam, Jaden Hicks, Kevin Knowles<\/p>\n Still need:\u00a0More 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\u2019s track record, the team shouldn\u2019t have to force a first-round pick for this need.<\/p>\n Draft outlook:\u00a0The 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\u2019s Mansoor Delane at No. 9. And if Clemson\u2019s Avieon Terrell \u2014 a Trent McDuffie clone \u2014 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.<\/p>\n Specialists<\/p>\n Starters: K Harrison Butker, P Matt Araiza, LS James Winchester<\/p>\n Backups: None<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2249080769-scaled.jpg\")
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