The 2026 NFL Draft is just around the corner, and we’ve got a brand-new tool for Kansas City Chiefs fans to explore all the possibilities it holds.

The A to Z Sports mock draft simulator is loaded with never-before-seen features, such as customizable trade-offer frequency for computer teams, AI draft pick suggestions, live probabilities of prospect availability 10, 20, and 30 picks from current selection, athletic profiles with full 2026 NFL Scouting Combine Results with raw measurements, percentiles, and our own A to Z Sports metrics such as overall composite score, speed score, burst score, and agility score. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, too.

I asked Chiefs Kingdom to use the mock draft simulator and share their best mock drafts with me. I chose several of my favorites to discuss and grade below.

Loading up on Chiefs lottery tickets

Favorite pick: Bryce Lance

There might be a little bit of redundancy with the Jordyn Tyson pick, but I really like Lance as a prospect. A ton of production over the past two seasons, and his playstyle reminds me a bit of Marquez Valdes-Scantling (with a 3.8% career drop rate).

Questionable pick: Akheem Mesidor

I actually like Mesidor quite a bit, but I know the Chiefs do actually care about age when it comes to draft prospects. He turned 25 this weekend, which sounds rich coming from someone who might as well be dead in NFL years, but it’s going to be a problem for Brett Veach.

Grade: A

I was originally going to give you a B+, but I’ve upgraded you to an A because of your use of our Dark Mode feature. I’m not a huge fan of multiple trade downs because I don’t think it’s particularly realistic given how the Kansas City Chiefs operate in the draft, but it’s hard to complain about the players you did get in those trades.

Chiefs commit highway robbery at the end of Round 1

Favorite pick: Chris Johnson

Picking up two extra picks to move down two spots is highway robbery, especially if you come away with Johnson. I’ve seen a lot of him, playing against my UNM Lobos in the Mountain West conference. He’s a super-talented cover man with great ball skills.

Questionable pick: Kaelon Black

Hard to complain about the last pick of the draft, but I feel like any pick of a RB/WR late has to come with some return specialist value, given the current roster composition. Black simply doesn’t have it.

Grade: A

Not a lot to complain about here. You got a ton of value out of the trade with the Johnson, Fa’amoe, and Benny picks. I think the only thing missing is finding a safety or a nickel cornerback.

Trading all around the 2026 NFL Draft

Favorite pick: Chandler Rivers

Rivers is probably a Day 3 pick because of his size, but there’s so much to like about his game, from the ball skills, zone coverage awareness, and physicality. He could really help solve and cement the nickel cornerback question in Kansas City this season.

Questionable pick: LT Overton

Zion Young & Jaishawn Barham feel like enough at the edge rusher position, while three is a bit overkill. Overton is a high-floor player and a talented run defender, but he’s not a great athlete. I’m just not sure he’s what they need at the edge rusher position.

Grade: A-

This just feels like a Brett Veach draft. Move down in Round 1 and pick up an extra pick. Send a few picks later in the draft to be selective in Round 4. I think you hit the needs really well, outside of grabbing three edge rushers. If you consider Barham more of a linebacker, I can see the vision.

A three-round Chiefs mock draft that hits some big needs

Favorite pick: Colton Hood

Hood has that physical, chip-on-shoulder style of play that seems to mesh well with Steve Spagnuolo and Dave Merritt’s secondary. He’s an easy mover with quick hips to turn and burn in coverage. If you miss out on Delane & McCoy, I think he’s a good consolation prize late in the round.

Questionable pick: Gennings Dunker

I’m not 100% certain the Dunker is an offensive tackle at the next level. He definitely fits the zone-blocking style that Andy Reid seems to prefer, but he’s not an exceptional pass-blocker as things currently stand.

Grade: B+
I agree with the simulator on this one. If 109 and 210 are all that it costs to come up to No. 5 to secure an edge rusher like Bain or Bailey, I’m okay with that. Hood plays cornerback just how the Chiefs like it. Brazzell gives Kansas City a size-speed mismatch at receiver that they haven’t had in quite some time.

Brett Veach rebuilds the secondary early in the draft

Favorite pick: Oscar Delp

Getting Delp at 148 probably indicates that teams had concerns about his injury. I know the Chiefs brought him in for a top-30 visit to get that checked out, so I suspect they’d be more willing to take a shot on him.

Questionable pick: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren

Don’t get me wrong here, I like the player. McNeil-Warren plays that middle-of-the-field enforcer role, but I’m just not certain that’s what the Chiefs need at the safety position right now. Chamarri Conner and Jaden Hicks already fill that bucket, and I’d love to see Conner strictly playing that box safety role in 2026.

Grade: B-

Hard for me to get excited about the first three picks in this particular draft, but basically every pick you make after those three makes up for it. Demonte Capehart at 176 could be the steal of the draft. I just don’t see Mansoor Delane as the pick at No. 9, given everything the Chiefs have shown us so far, which suggests they’re taking a budget approach to the position in 2026.

Could a linebacker be on the menu in Round 1 for the Chiefs?

Favorite pick: Sonny Styles

I know that linebacker isn’t a top need for Kansas City or a premium position, but this is a “don’t overthink it” pick for me. Our own Destin Adams is a big believer that Styles is the top player in this draft class. Some of his highlight plays as a run defender remind me of peak Derrick Johnson, with elite football IQ combined with superior athleticism. Like his running mate, Arvell Reese, Styles can also rush the passer.

Questionable pick: Sawyer Robertson

The Chiefs typically carry three or four quarterbacks on the 90-man offseason roster and typically only carry two on the 53-man roster. That could be different during the 2026 NFL season, given Patrick Mahomes’ injury, but a draft pick spent would almost guarantee they go back to the three-quarterback approach on the active roster. I just don’t see it as a valuable use of a pick, given the team’s other needs.

Grade: C+

I don’t see the Kansas City Chiefs going linebacker at No. 9 (who will play SAM in Year 1) and EDGE at No. 38 only to take Romello Height at No. 91. Combine that with the low investment at CB with a guy who played a lot of Cover 3 in TJ Hall, and the Robertson pick, and it’s tough for me to grade this draft positively.

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Charles Goldman March 30, 2026