The Kansas City Chiefs have a depleted secondary.
It started with the Chiefs trading All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie in exchange for four draft picks, including the No. 29 overall pick in next month’s 2026 NFL Draft. Then, cornerback Jaylen Watson followed McDuffie to the Rams in free agency, and safety Bryan Cook signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Kansas City tried to fill Cook’s void by signing Alohi Gilman during the first wave of free agency, and signing nickel cornerback Kader Kohou was an intriguing move. But cornerback remains a need.
Longtime draft analyst Todd McShay took that under consideration when crafting his latest mock for The Ringer.
McShay has the Chiefs selecting former LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at No. 9 overall.
“Brett Veach could go in a few different directions, but Delane would be tough to pass on,” McShay wrote. “He's the clear-cut CB1 in this class, displaying an excellent blend of man and zone coverage skills. He’s one of the smartest cornerbacks that I've studied in the past few years and should be a plug-and-play impact starter for KC after the departures of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson.”
McShay added, “There are also whispers about Jeremiyah Love being the pick if he's still available. An edge like Rueben Bain Jr. or David Bailey would also be in play if they're still on the board, as would a tackle such as Spencer Fano.”
The Chiefs’ signing of former Seattle Seahawks running back and reigning Super Bowl LIX MVP Kenneth Walker to a lucrative three-year contract in free agency all but eliminates the Chiefs from taking Jeremiyah Love. Kansas City’s aggressive push in the RB free agency market probably signals that Love won’t be available at No. 9 anyway.
For the record, McShay has the Chiefs using the No. 29 overall pick they received in the McDuffie trade to take former Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas.
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.