We’re a week away from Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft, and the rumors about the Kansas City Chiefs’ plans continue to swirl.

This is an important draft class for Chiefs GM Brett Veach, with the pressure on after a disappointing 6-11 season in 2025. What can we make of the latest pre-draft buzz out there for the Chiefs? Let’s dive into it.

A favorite combination in Round 1 is emerging for the Chiefs in recent mock drafts

ESPN’s Mel Kiper and The Ringer’s Todd McShay each released brand new mock drafts on Tuesday, April 15. They both picked the same two players at Pick No. 9 and Pick No 29 for the Chiefs. ESPN’s Peter Schrager also had the same two picks in his first of two predictive Round 1 mock drafts, published a week ago. Those two players? Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson and No. 9, and Tennessee CB Colton Hood at No. 29.

As we get closer to the 2026 NFL Draft, it’s not shocking to see some consensus. That’s a whole lot of people with the same picks for the Chiefs, though. You can’t help but wonder if they’re getting the same information from somewhere.

We’ve already discussed the Tyson buzz in our earlier rumors breakdown article. I tend to believe that it’s legitimate, but that his upcoming workout in front of NFL teams will be a big deciding factor for the Chiefs and the rest of the league.

The Colton Hood buzz makes a lot of sense to me because he fits with what they like at the cornerback position. The Chiefs had him in the building for a top-30 visit, according to a recent report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. I took him for Kansas City at pick No. 29 in my post-free agency mock draft.

The Chiefs need to reload in the secondary, and while they could wait around until later in the draft, having a fifth-year option seemed to pay off for them with Trent McDuffie. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 193 pounds, with 31-inch arms, Hood has the size and length for a starting outside cornerback in the NFL. He has a physical and sticky coverage style, competing really well at the catch point. He does a great job of diagnosing pre-snap, and he’s also quick to attack downhill. Hood scored an 80.9% mark on the A to Z Sports Athletic Composite, with a 91st percentile mark in the vertical jump. 75 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and 14 passes defended over the past two seasons. Also had a fumble and an interception returned for a touchdown. 

While Chiefs fans do tend to be resistant to cornerback needs, with gurus like Steve Spagnuolo and Dave Merritt in the building, they still need six players at the position just to conduct their offseason work. I think that there’s a legitimate possibility that they could be targeting a player like Hood in the range of picks Nos. 29 and 40. They also might not stop at adding a single player to the position group after this offseason’s churn.

Is there any real concern with Chiefs LT Josh Simmons?

ESPN NFL Analyst Peter Schrager recently sent Utah OT Caleb Lomu to the Chiefs in a mock draft at Pick No. 29. It’s not the most prolific draft choice, but the accompanying comments sent some shockwaves through Chiefs Kingdom.

“…We know this is a position they’ve invested in a bunch. They’ve hit on a bunch of them… But I’m not sure on Josh Simmons, their pick from a year ago, and I’m not sure they have the depth…” Schrager said.

Schrager, of course, has a good relationship with Chiefs GM Brett Veach. It made people wonder, could something actually be wrong with 2025 first-round pick Josh Simmons? He’s coming off a dislocated and fractured wrist that ended his season prematurely. There was also the situation in which he missed four games during the 2025 NFL season due to an off-field family matter. He’s confirmed this won’t be a recurring issue.

I reported back in February that Simmons is expected to be healthy and ready to play for Week 1. My understanding is that nothing has changed to that end. There were some photos circulating a while back showing a slimmed-down Simmons, but that’s not too unusual for an NFL player during the offseason. Especially those recovering from an injury that impacts upper-body workouts. 96.5 the Fan’s Bob Fescoe says he spoke with someone in the know and says, “There is no concern about Simmons.”

If there are no issues with Simmons, could the Chiefs still target an offensive tackle early?

I’ve touched on the fact that the Chiefs have a lot of irons in the fire at offensive tackle. However, the team knows better than any other in the league how quickly things can change at that position group. They were down to offensive tackles No. 4 and No. 5 by the conclusion of last season. We saw what happened with Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz. All it takes is a wave of bad luck, and you’re back to square one.

The second part of Schrager’s comment is more in line with what I think the Chiefs want to do. You can believe that some of the guys on the roster will develop, but how many are you confident in their ability to start multiple games? Simmons and Jaylon Moore are probably the extent of that list right now.

So where does that leave the Chiefs?

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo says the Chiefs have spent extended time with Georgia OT Monroe Freeling. He’s a realistic option at pick No. 9, as Garafolo says. If he went back to school in 2026, he could’ve been a No. 1 overall type of prospect in 2027.

The Chiefs also had a top-30 visit and have been connected to Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor. They clearly have some level of interest in the offensive tackle position.

A reality to consider is that the Chiefs value arm length in their offensive tackle prospects. There are seven who hit the 34-inch and above threshold based on the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine measurements. Every player Veach has drafted has hit that mark.

Freeling and Miller are the only two with Round 1 hype. Miller, Wagner, Crownover, and Burke played right tackle in 2025. It’s just something important to note in the process, when discussing tackles like Spencer Fano, Caleb Lomu, and Francis Mauigoa

Another aspect to consider is that the Chiefs could be showing interest in offensive tackle prospects as a smokescreen. They could be doing it to push down other prospects ahead of Pick No. 9. I constantly have to remind myself that there are always more offensive tackles that go in Round 1 than those who deal in mock drafts expect. That could come into play here. It could even accelerate the Chiefs’ need and desire to draft one.