What should Kansas City Chiefs fans make of recent 2026 NFL Draft rumors? This year, it might be wise to recall how the team handled Patrick Mahomes during the 2017 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tApr 28, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs number 10 pick Patrick Mahomes II (left) and head coach Andy Reid speak with media during the press conference at Stram Theatre.
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDenny Medley-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n
As we get closer to the 2026 NFL Draft, rumors about what the Kansas City Chiefs might do with the No. 9 pick are swirling. <\/p>\n
How exactly can fans parse through what is real and what is fake? Chiefs GM Brett Veach is probably the only one who truly knows that. However, looking back at the 2017 NFL Draft might give us the context we need to consider in 2026.<\/p>\n
Kansas City Chiefs were deceptive about who they were targeting when they traded up for Patrick Mahomes in 2017<\/p>\n
Former Chiefs assistant GM and current Tennessee Titans GM Mike Borgonzi recently revealed some details about the team\u2019s 2017 pursuit of Patrick Mahomes<\/a>. Kansas City traded up with the Buffalo Bills to pick No. 10 to secure the superstar quarterback, but they were sweating bullets the whole time. They were so nervous about missing out on Mahomes that they had to manufacture a story to teams about the player they were moving up for.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, we were very nervous,\u201d\u00a0Borgonzi said<\/a>. \u201cI mean, we tried to get up to the top of the draft. We tried to get up to one, and we went down the list, you know, we got to 10, we got to Buffalo, and we leaked out that we were trading up for (Alabama LB) Reuben Foster. I don\u2019t know if anybody believed it, but we leaked it out.\u201d<\/p>\n The Kansas City Chiefs even hosted Foster on a pre-draft visit, which helped to sell their fib to teams on draft day. <\/p>\n So what does this have to do with the 2026 NFL Draft for the Chiefs? Picking at the bottom of the round each year, it doesn\u2019t make much sense to engage in deceptive tactics like this. There are simply too many variables before you come on the clock. Sitting at No. 9 overall, though? That\u2019s an entirely different story. <\/p>\n Parsing through recent Chiefs 2026 NFL Draft rumors<\/p>\n Do the Chiefs really like Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson? <\/p>\n There\u2019s some buzz for Jordyn Tyson as a potential option for the Chiefs, with Peter Schrager\u2019s recent mock draft leading the charge. There have been no reports that Kansas City had Tyson in for a top-30 visit, which is concerning given his medicals and the Chiefs\u2019 standards there. They like to bring in guys with injury history to check out their medicals and get a sense of them. They\u2019ve also brought in the two other receivers \u2014 USC\u2019s Makai Lemon and Ohio State\u2019s Carnell Tate<\/a> \u2014 who are projected to go early in Round 1. <\/p>\n K.C. did have a formal meeting with Tyson at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. There, he met with Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy. Those two share ties, as both were former Colorado Buffaloes. Tyson transferred after his freshman season in what was a not-so-clean exit. Buffs head coach Deion Sanders recently had high praise for Tyson, sharing it publicly on his X account in February of 2026. <\/p>\n Tyson didn\u2019t work out at the combine or the Arizona State Pro Day due to a hamstring injury, but will have an upcoming private workout with teams ahead of the draft. ESPN\u2019s Matt Miller recently said he\u2019s \u201ctrending in the wrong direction\u201d and could slide in the draft as a result. The conspiracy theorist in me wonders if it all isn\u2019t some elaborate pre-draft ruse to ensure that Tyson lands in Kansas City. The purported interest in Tyson could also be part of a plot to land an entirely different player. <\/p>\n What to make of the offensive tackle buzz for the Chiefs<\/p>\n There has been a ton of smoke surrounding the Chiefs\u2019 interest in offensive tackles leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, but is there actually fire? Daniel Jeremiah recently had the Chiefs take Utah\u2019s Spencer Fano at No. 9 overall in a mock draft. Some have suggested that Kansas City is a team that really likes Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor. Todd McShay says it won\u2019t be Miami RT Francis Mauigoa. The big question that fans are asking regarding an offensive tackle is: Why? <\/p>\n Yes, the Chiefs released starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor<\/a> and technically have a hole there. They also have six different options on the 90-man roster to play the right tackle position, including Jaylon Moore, who has a top-10 contract value on the team. Josh Simmons was a gem at left tackle when he was on the field last season, so there\u2019s no need on that side. Protecting Patrick Mahomes is obviously important, but they have bodies for healthy competition there. They could realistically find both a starter and a swing tackle without making another addition there.<\/p>\n What this all feels like to me is some posturing to get teams that need offensive tackles to take them before pick No. 9. That could be teams picking ahead of the Chiefs, or the teams looking to move up. If executed, it may push some offensive skill players and edge rushers further down the draft board. <\/p>\n On the flip side, the Kansas City Chiefs have seen what offensive tackle injuries can do to this team. Just last season, they were down to their fourth and fifth options by the end of the year. If faced with taking the top offensive tackle prospect at No. 9 or a lesser prospect at another position, I could realistically see the appeal to go tackle. <\/p>\n Is Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq an option at No. 9 for Kansas City?<\/p>\n Todd McShay recently spoke with Albert Breer<\/a>, discussing Sadiq to the Chiefs at No. 9. I\u2019m not so sure I buy this one. Only four tight ends in league history have been drafted within the first nine picks of the NFL Draft. Kyle Pitts is the most recent, followed by T.J. Hockenson, Vernon Davis, and Kellen Winslow. I look at the production of all those players throughout their college careers, and the idea gives me pause. <\/p>\n PlayerGamesReceptionsYardsTDsKyle Pitts321001,49218T.J. Hockenson26701,0809Vernon Davis35831,3719Kellen Winslow3611913659Kenyon Sadiq428089211<\/p>\n The Chiefs haven\u2019t shown any public-facing interest in Sadiq. No 2026 NFL Scouting Combine formal or top-30 visits have been reported with the Oregon Duck. This is certainly one where they could be keeping their interest off the radar. Knowing that he\u2019d be the No. 2 tight end at best for Kansas City in 2026, I feel like it\u2019d be a poor use of resources if he\u2019s the pick at No. 9. However, if the Chiefs believe he can become the same quality of player as Winslow, Davis, Hockensen, or Pitts, it might be worthwhile to make the long term investment.<\/p>\n Kansas City Chiefs could pass on DE Rueben Bain Jr. in Round 1<\/p>\n There have been a few recent NFL media mock drafts in which the Chiefs pass on Miami DE Rueben Bain Jr. at pick No. 9 in favor of other players. Fans can\u2019t seem to fathom it, but I think it\u2019s a strong possibility.<\/p>\n
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