The Kansas City Chiefs finished with a 6-11 record last season in the NFL and they missed the playoffs. This is rare territory for Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes to have a Top 10 selection. Kansas City will have the ninth and 29th overall selections in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Dec 14, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) runs the ball during the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Despite signing running back Kenneth Walker and tight end Travis Kelce this offseason to big contracts, the Chiefs are not close to being contenders. They need help on the offensive line, the defensive line, and in the secondary as well. Kansas City does not feel like a contending team at the moment with the roster that is currently constructed.
PFF Thinks That the Kansas City Chiefs Could Potentially Trade the Ninth Overall Pick in the 2026 NFL Draft
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Dec 14, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes against the Los Angeles Chargers during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Profootballfocus.com writer John Kosko listed one potential trade chip for each NFL team as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches. Kosko thinks that it is possible that Kansas City could very well trade the ninth overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. He said,
“A rare sight in the Mahomes–Andy Reid era: a top-10 pick. After three straight Super Bowl appearances — winning two — the Chiefs missed the playoffs following a season defined by struggles in close games and a season-ending injury to Mahomes.
While Mahomes is still capable of taking over games, his down-to-down consistency over the past few seasons hasn’t quite matched his earlier standard. Combined with missed draft picks, trades and injuries, Kansas City’s offensive weapons are not what they were when he first entered the league.
While the ninth overall pick could be used on a high-end wide receiver, the better approach may be to trade down and accumulate additional selections. That would give theChiefsmore opportunities to rebuild depth and restock the offense around their franchise quarterback.”
If the Chiefs do trade down and acquire more picks, it means that they are going to rebuild the roster. There will be good players at the ninth overall selection. Kansas City may just want to trade down anyways. They have a lot of holes on the roster. Trying to fix this roster is not going to take one offseason. General manager Brett Veach has a lot of decisions to make with this roster during the 2026 NFL Draft here.
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