The Kansas City Chiefs will have no shortage of trade partners in the 2026 NFL Draft, if they’re seeking to move up in Round 1. That might not be the case if they’re looking to move down from Pick No. 9.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer recently reported five teams are open to trading back in Round 1 to “accumulate capital.” Those teams all fall in the Top 10. They are the Arizona Cardinals (Pick No. 3), Tennessee Titans (Pick No. 4), New York Giants (Pick No. 5), Cleveland Browns (Pick No. 6), and Washington Commanders (Pick No. 7).

The two players Breer said would likely prompt a move up the draft board are Ohio State LB Arvell Reese and Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love. He mentioned the New Orleans Saints as a team that makes sense. Really, they make sense for either player. There has also been a ton of buzz about the Dallas Cowboys (pick No. 12) seeking to move up in the draft.

Trading down might not make sense for the Chiefs, regardless of whether they can find a partner

The Cowboys are the only team to pick after the Chiefs with real buzz about moving up. They could be a realistic option for Kansas City, too. Plenty of folks are suggesting swapping No. 9 and No. 29 for No. 12 and No. 20. Plus something to sweeten the deal. The A to Z Sports Mock Draft Simulator says it will take No. 12, No. 20, and No. 112 to get a deal done.

The Los Angeles Rams (Pick No. 13) could be a trade-up candidate, given their closing window with Matthew Stafford. Brett Veach already did business with the Rams once this offseason. The Philadelphia Eagles (Pick No. 23) have also been pegged as a potential trade-up candidate, but I’m not sure K.C. would move down that far. I quietly think that the Pittsburgh Steelers (Pick No. 21) could be an option to move up. They have five total picks in the top 100 selections.

With so many teams ahead of the Chiefs looking to trade down, the return in capital likely won’t be as substantial. If the value of moving down shifts, it might not be worth it for K.C. to move off pick No. 9. The team already has plenty of draft capital. If they made all of their selections, it’d be the second-most ever in a Brett Veach draft class next to 2022.

Ultimately, it might come down to which players are available at pick No. 9 and are considered worth moving up for. The other question you’d have to ask is, “Why wouldn’t the Chiefs just take them?”

Under what circumstances would trading up make sense for the Chiefs?

Chiefs GM Brett Veach always tends to favor the aggressive path when it comes to the NFL Draft. Over a dozen of the trades Veach made during the draft since becoming general manager have included the Chiefs moving up to select a player.

With five teams ahead looking to move down and collect picks, what prospect would the Chiefs realistically move up for? The need for a pass-rusher is clear. Texas Tech OLB David Bailey is the current favorite for the New York Jets at No. 2 overall. Miami DE Rueben Bain Jr.’s situation is now complicated. He might not be an option for the team in a trade-up situation or at No. 9.

Do you move up for a player like Ohio State LB Arvell Reese? Some view him as the best overall player in this draft class. The Chiefs did bring him in for a top-30 visit. Ryan Roberts recently had Kansas City move up to No. 3 overall in a mock draft to select Reese. It cost the team No. 9, No. 74 (Round 3), and a 2027 second-round pick.

With needs all over the defense, the Chiefs make the move to go get a defender who can do a little bit of everything. Thinking about all the things that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo could do with a player like Reese is extremely tantalizing.

Alternatively, could the Chiefs be willing to move up for a wide receiver? Do they like Ohio State WR Carnell Tate, Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson, or USC WR Makai Lemon enough? If the Saints can’t move up to land Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love, a small move up to secure a top receiver might be necessary.

In the end, it might just be wise to stand pat and let the cards fall as they may. There are still a hundred different ways things could play out in Round 1 for Kansas City. Being aggressive and moving up only seems to make sense in a few select circumstances.