2026 NFL Draft Team Needs & Predictions: Chiefs

This is where things get… awkward.

Teams picking ninth through 12th usually don’t expect to be here — and for franchises like the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, and Dallas Cowboys, selecting this high signals a season that fell short of expectations.

These aren’t rebuilding rosters (other than the Miami Dolphins).

These are teams with established franchise quarterbacks, strong cores, and playoff aspirations. But something broke — whether it was injuries, defensive regression, cap strain, coaching turnover, or roster imbalance.

That’s what makes this range fascinating.

These front offices aren’t drafting for survival. They’re drafting to recalibrate. The goal isn’t to build a foundation — it’s to fix what prevented a deep playoff run.

And unlike the teams at the very top, these organizations must balance immediate impact with long-term cap sustainability. Extensions are looming. Core players are aging. Windows don’t stay open forever.

In this batch, we break down:

• The biggest roster holes for each franchise
• Contract situations and future cap implications
• Which positions should be prioritized for veterans and rookies
• Potential fantasy football implications

These are the teams that don’t want to be here — but could use this draft slot to reload in a big way.

Up next: the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, and Dallas Cowboys.

Salary cap contract information provided by Spotrac.

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2026 NFL Draft Team Needs & Predictions: Kansas City Chiefs

Team Needs: CB, EDGE, WR, OT, TE, DT

2026 Free Agent Key Losses:

RB Isiah Pacheco, EDGE Charles Omenihu, S Bryan Cook, CB Joshua Williams, CB Jaylen Watson, LB Leo Chenal, DL Derrick Nnadi, DL Jerry Tillery, WR Marquise Brown, RT Jawaan Taylor,

2026 Free Agents Losses:

• QB: Gardner Minshew
• RB: Kareem Hunt, Dameon Pierce, Keaontay Ingram (RFA)
• WR: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Nikko Remigio (ERFA)
• TE: Robert Tonyan Jr.
• EDGE: Janarius Robinson, Michael Danna
• DL: Mike Pennel
• LB: Jack Cochrane, Cole Christiansen (ERFA)
• CB: Nazeeh Johnson, Eric Scott Jr. (ERFA)
• S: Deon Bush, Mike Edwards
• ST: James Winchester, Matt Araiza (ERFA)

2027 Free Agents:

• QB: Justin Fields, Jake Haener (RFA), Chris Oladokun (ERFA)
• RB: ShunDerrick Powell (ERFA), Emari Demercado
• WR: Rashee Rice, Jason Brownlee (RFA), Andrew Armstrong (ERFA), Jimmy Holiday (ERFA)
• TE: Tre Watson (ERFA), Travis Kelce
• OL: G Mike Caliendo (RFA), RT Jaylon Moore, LT Wanya Morris, RT Matt Waletzko (RFA), G C.J. Hanson (ERFA), OT Ethan Driskell (RFA), OT Esa Pole (ERFA), OT Chukwuebuka Godrick (ERFA)
• EDGE: Felix Anudike-Uzomah (CLUB), Tyreke Smith (ERFA), Ethan Downs (ERFA)
• DL: Zacch Pickens (RFA), Marcus Harris (ERFA)
• LB: Drue Tranquill, Kam Arnold (ERFA)
• CB: Kader Kohou, Kristian Fulton, Chamarri Conner, Kevin Knowles (ERFA), Melvin Smith Jr. (ERFA)
• S: Tanner McCalister (RFA), Christian Roland-Wallace (RFA)

KC only has two WRs on the roster who are under contract in 2027 entering the offseason – Jalen Royals and Xavier Worthy.

Tyquan Thornton re-signed with the Chiefs on a two-year deal worth $11 million.  The speedy wide receiver had his most productive season in the NFL last year, catching 19 passes for 438 yards and three touchdowns (on nearly 1,000 air yards and 23 deep targets). He stepped up at the start of the year due to Worthy’s injury and Rashee Rice’s suspension. Over the first 5 weeks of the year, Thornton averaged 10.3 fantasy points per game. His 2025 yardage and touchdown totals set new career-highs, and he averaged 23.1 yards per reception (first in the NFL). Also had zero recorded drops.

Rashee Rice continues to put himself in legal trouble and cannot be a trusted long-term asset to KC. Even if he avoids suspension this year…he’s skating on extremely thin ice.

Meanwhile, Travis Kelce needs a new contract should he decide not to retire. He will be entering his age-37 season in 2026. He is going to come back on a one-year deal.

Both of last year’s starting RBs are also impending free agents. Kareem Hunt is still out there, but Isiah Pacheco signed with the Lions.

They desperately needed to add an explosive playmaker out of the backfield. Hello, Kenneth Walker III. Full breakdown on his signing to KC.

KC will have to continue adding skill-position players this offseason to help their QB, who is coming off a season-ending torn ACL and LCL injury.

With the ninth overall pick, KC could very much make a splashy fantasy football acquisition.

The team has already replaced offensive coordinator Matt Nagy with a familiar face in Eric Bieniemy. Bieniemy has spent time with the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders over the last several seasons, so he has some connections to veteran RBs like D’Andre Swift and Brian Robinson Jr.

DeMarco Murray was hired as the new RBs coach (spent the last five years at his alma mater, Oklahoma, as the RBs coach).

RBs he coached over that span include Kentucky’s Seth McGowan, veteran Eric Gray, and Oklahoma’s Jaydn Ott. Obviously, he can provide insight on some of these former Sooner RBs (especially the incoming rookies).

Murray was seemingly a big fan of McGowan early on in the RB’s college career before he got dismissed from the OU program for committing a felony (larceny).

Offensive line also remains a priority given how things unraveled for this unit in 2025 (injuries). The personnel remain intact from last year…but solving the RT spot long-term needs to be addressed. Rumor is that the Chiefs want to take care of this early in the draft.

Overall, it’s a strong run-blocking unit when healthy. If they can add an explosive runner to the backfield, that could pay off massive dividends. GM Brett Veach made that point clear at the NFL Combine. Also spoke about the best players being available at non-premium positions.

Jaylon Moore will be FA in 2027. Taylor was cut outright as the Chiefs look to get under the salary cap. Taylor has been penalized 56 times since joining KC in 2023. Woof.

Defensively, KC is rumored to be in the market for a big-bodied pass rusher. According to Arrowhead Pride, the DL struggled in 2025 in both pass rush and run defense. Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter the Chiefs were interested in acquiring Seahawks free agent Boye Mafe before the 2025 trade deadline.

Expect multiple defensive line bodies to come to KC this offseason. They started the rebuild by signing former Patriots run stuffer, NT Khyiris Tonga, to a 3-year contract.

I should note that KC will already be in a better position than last year with defensive linemen such as Omarr Norma-Lott and Felix Anudike-Uzomah returning from injuries.

The secondary also needs help (but this is the perfect draft to need defensive backs). Jaylen Watson left as a free agent along with Joshua Williams.

Trent McDuffie was entering the final year of his rookie contract (playing on the fifth-year option).

KC traded him to the Rams for the 29th overall pick in this year’s draft, along with some Day 3 selections.

Starting safety Bryan Cook is also a free agent. They replaced him with safety Alohi Gilman on a 3-year deal.

They also signed nickel back Kader Kohou to a one-year deal. Nohl Williams looks like a nice find in Round 3 of last year’s draft, but cornerback is thin behind him and Kristan Fulton.

After losing Gardner Minshew, the Chiefs also traded for Justin Fields to be Patrick Mahomes’ backup QB while he rehabs from his ACL injury.

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