{"id":878025,"date":"2026-04-29T18:42:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T18:42:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/878025\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T18:42:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T18:42:16","slug":"chiefs-draft-best-player-value-and-other-superlatives-for-2026-class","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/878025\/","title":{"rendered":"Chiefs Draft: Best player, value and other superlatives for 2026 class"},"content":{"rendered":"

The seven selections in the 2026 NFL Draft that make up the Kansas City Chief<\/a>s\u2019 draft class this year all have different paths to making an impact on the franchise that took a chance on them.<\/p>\n

So let\u2019s break down this year\u2019s crop of rookies by superlatives! We\u2019ll start with the player most likely to make an impact instantly:<\/p>\n

Most likely to immediately contribute<\/p>\n

Round 1, pick 6: CB Mansoor Delane<\/p>\n

Delane has the clearest path to early snaps and is the most likely rookie starter in Week 1. His scheme versatility should make the transition smooth, and he has a real chance to become Kansas City\u2019s top corner quickly.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s why he will also be awarded\u2026<\/p>\n

Peter Woods may have the higher ceiling, but Delane feels like the safest bet. He projects as a quality starter in multiple schemes, and outside of questions about his lean frame, his profile is clean and dependable.<\/p>\n

The \u201cBoom-or-Bust\u201d pick<\/p>\n

Round 1, pick 29: Defensive tackle Peter Woods<\/p>\n

There are many paths Woods\u2019 career could take.<\/p>\n

On the positive end, Woods has the tools to be a high-end defensive tackle. His combination of balance, agility, and explosiveness is enticing. He can hold up as a run defender against all sorts of blocks because he can recover and strain against blocks. He\u2019s a slippery pass rusher who can blow up plays. He has experience playing multiple techniques. There is plenty of upside with Woods if he can develop as a pass rusher.<\/p>\n

On the negative side, Woods is not a good pass rusher right now. He struggles to use his hands to sequence pass-rush moves. His hands don\u2019t bring much violence, and he struggles to control or get off blocks. If Woods doesn\u2019t slip a block and cleanly get upfield, he makes little impact as a pass rusher.<\/p>\n

If Woods can develop moves and add power to his hands, his upside is high. But if he can\u2019t, his ceiling gets much lower. It all comes down to how well he can mitigate his lack of arm length as an NFL player. There is upside to be a star, but Woods also has real bust potential.<\/p>\n

Round 7, pick 249: QB Garrett Nussmeier<\/p>\n

Nussmeier has a strong chance to outperform his draft slot. He\u2019s an aggressive passer with solid arm talent, enough mobility to extend plays, and upside to become one of the league\u2019s better backups. Even if he never starts in Kansas City, he could create future trade value or return a compensatory pick.<\/p>\n

Most concerning due to fit<\/p>\n

Round 2, pick 40: DE R Mason Thomas<\/p>\n

Thomas was highly productive in college, but his size could be an issue at the next level. NFL tackles will be stronger, longer, and more athletic. He has the pass-rush toolbox to adjust, but finding what consistently works in the pros may take time.<\/p>\n

Most likely to struggle early on<\/p>\n

R Mason Thomas and Peter Woods<\/p>\n

Unfortunately for the Chiefs, both defensive linemen could struggle early as rookies.<\/p>\n

Woods still has a long developmental path as a pass rusher. He flashes the ability to slip blocks, but his hand usage is raw, and he doesn\u2019t yet know how to consistently control or defeat blockers with moves. That lack of refinement will be tougher to overcome against NFL linemen, which could limit his early pressure production.<\/p>\n

Thomas faces a different adjustment. It will be harder for him to win with speed-to-power or pure burst against bigger, more athletic NFL tackles. He has a variety of pass-rush moves, but he\u2019ll need time to learn which ones translate best and how to sequence them effectively at the next level.<\/p>\n

Both players have long-term upside, but neither feels likely to make an immediate impact as a pass rusher.<\/p>\n

Day 3 pick most likely to make an impact<\/p>\n

Round 5, pick 161: RB Emmett Johnson<\/p>\n

Johnson has the clearest path among the Day 3 picks. If he wins the RB2 job in camp, he could carve out a role quickly. His pass protection, receiving ability, and short-yardage skill set complement Kenneth Walker and could earn him early snaps.<\/p>\n

Day 3 pick who could surprise as a starter<\/p>\n

Round 4, pick 109: CB Jadon Canady
Round 5, pick 176: WR Cyrus Allen<\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible that Canady takes over as the starting slot defender at some point this season.<\/p>\n

The Chiefs currently have Kadar Kohou and Chamarri Conner as their slot options. Kohou is coming off a knee injury and may not be the same. Conner has always struggled to cover slot receivers. I trust Canady to be able to cover slot receivers more than Conner. Canady will have to prove he can hold up against the run, but he could boost the Chiefs\u2019 coverage from the slot.<\/p>\n

Allen is the only pass catcher the Chiefs added and could figure into the wide receiver rotation. His separation could immediately earn him trust and targets. Allen is a slot-only player, which can be tough with Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy on the team. However, the Chiefs just need anyone who can create separation, and Allen can do that. In a thin receiver room, Allen could carve out a role.<\/p>\n

My personal favorite pick<\/p>\n

The Chiefs had to get depth in the backfield behind Kenneth Walker. Walker is a great weapon, but he has gaps in his game. He\u2019s not great in short yardage or pass protection. On top of that, he has a history of injuries, and you want to keep his explosiveness fresh for the playoffs. Getting someone who can handle some of the workload in the regular season will pay dividends later.<\/p>\n

Johnson will provide that. Despite being undersized, he\u2019s great in short yardage with his vision and contact balance. Johnson is also good at pass protection and can catch. He could immediately be the third-down back for the Chiefs. There\u2019s strong synergy between Johnson\u2019s and Walkers\u2019 skill sets.<\/p>\n

Johnson and Walker are a massive upgrade over what the Chiefs have had at running back for years and will give the run game a major boost.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m skeptical Woods will ever become a quality pass rusher. His mobility and balance are impressive, but his lack of length and underdeveloped hand usage create real concerns. He struggles to strike into blockers\u2019 frames, control reps with his hands, and consistently win against offensive linemen. To reach his ceiling, he\u2019ll need major growth as a technician.<\/p>\n

His run defense should translate well. Woods plays with balance, can recover at difficult angles, and slips blocks to penetrate the backfield, which at least offers some pass-rush utility.<\/p>\n

The traits are intriguing, but the combination of limited pass-rush production and significant technical development needed creates a low floor. If he never becomes a reliable interior rusher, the pick could fall short of what Kansas City needs.<\/p>\n

Any superlatives of your own to describe a draft pick? Where do you disagree? Let us know in the comments<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The seven selections in the 2026 NFL Draft that make up the Kansas City Chiefs\u2019 draft class this…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":878026,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2063],"tags":[346,7,118,110,80177,923,2438,2437,6],"class_list":["post-878025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-kansas-city-chiefs","tag-chiefs","tag-football","tag-kansas-city","tag-kansas-city-chiefs","tag-kansas-city-chiefs-analysis","tag-kansas-city-chiefs-draft","tag-kansascity","tag-kansascitychiefs","tag-nfl"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116489469509762668","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/878025","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=878025"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/878025\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/878026"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=878025"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=878025"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=878025"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}