The 2026 NFL Draft is almost here, and the rumors about the Kansas City Chiefs’ plans at pick No. 9 are getting louder and louder.

How do we determine which buzz is real and fake? It’s important to remember the secrecy and deception with which the Chiefs operated the last time they had a pick this high. Everything has to be taken with a grain of salt at this point.

To help parse through the noise, we’re going to buy and sell the latest rumors. A buy means we’re believing it. A sell means we’re not.

The Chiefs have talked to the Cardinals about the No. 3 pick

Johnny Venerable of PHNX Cardinals was the first to report that these two teams were talking shop. Todd McShay spoke about this on one of his recent draft shows as well.

Sources tell PHNX Cardinals that Ossenfort has already engaged in early trade discussions with GM Brett Veach and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs, who own the ninth overall pick, would likely target the top available pass rusher in either Texas Tech’s David Bailey or Ohio State’s Arvell Reese. While initial trade details remain vague, the NFL Trade Value Chart projects that pick #3 is worth roughly 2200, while pick #9 is worth #1350.

Brett Veach said during his pre-draft press conference that patience has been the biggest lesson he’s had to learn during his time as general manager. This quote stuck out to me.

“…That’s one of those things that even to this day I struggle with because – our guys do such a tremendous amount of work and it’s a collective unit here, and it’s a collective process,” Veach said. “And there’s an element of wanting to leave with guys that we’re all excited about, and that leads to being aggressive because you just want to make sure you get those guys. There’s certainly something to be said for being patient and dealing with more volume and having the ability to add more players to this roster. I think patience is the biggest thing, and that’s something I’m still working on today.”

So, are the Chiefs really talking trade with the Cardinals at pick No. 3?

Buy or sell? I am buying this. But I also think this is just the natural pre-draft process for Brett Veach and the Chiefs. I don’t think it necessarily signifies anything beyond the front office doing its due diligence. Even when they pick late in the round, they call teams drafting ahead of them to find out whether they 1) have interest in trading out and 2) what it would cost to make a trade. That eliminates any confusion or clutter when the bullets are flying during the draft. The trade calls simply become, “Do you want to do the deal we discussed?”

I’m on record saying that I think the Chiefs would like to move up and get their preferred pass-rusher. I just don’t know if there’s a realistic path to do so.

Andy Reid is hell-bent on figuring out the offensive line

There has been a ton of talk about the offensive tackle position for Kansas City during this draft cycle. We’ve covered a lot of it in our last two rumor posts, including a dive into some rumors surrounding Josh Simmons. Todd McShay recently brought this up during a 2026 NFL Draft Intel show.

“I am told, again on really good authority, Andy Reid is hell-bent on figuring out this offensive line,” McShay said. “Protecting the quarterback that is the epicenter of everything that is success for the Kansas City Chiefs, who is coming off of an injury.”

Andy Reid recently spoke about the offensive tackle position and what he’s looking for in draft prospects. His comment was a bit odd.

Peter Schrager, one of the most connected media personalities in Kansas City, said on Monday on ESPN that he doesn’t think the Chiefs will go O-Line: “I don’t think they go offensive line at nine.”

Buy or sell? I am buying that Andy Reid wants to figure out the offensive line. I could even see a scenario where picking an offensive tackle at No. 9 makes sense. As far as preferences go, I’m selling that this team wants to take an offensive tackle at pick No. 9. I think that’s the last thing they want to do, given the investments they’ve already made at the position. Getting the OL right with Mahomes, who is coming off a knee injury, is important, though.

The latest on Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq as an option for the Chiefs

Could the Chiefs be in on the No. 1 tight end in the class as early as pick No. 9? One of the biggest proponents of that narrative is Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. He says the team has discussed Sadiq, which makes sense, given that he quietly took a top-30 visit with the team.

“The name that’s most intriguing to me is Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq, whom the Chiefs have discussed,” Breer wrote. “I’m not sure if they’d take him at 9 or want him in a trade-down scenario, but he’d fit as a Travis Kelce successor, and might have as good a shot as anyone in the draft to be the focal point of some team’s passing game.”

Similarly, there seems to be conflicting information coming from ESPN’s Peter Schrager on this one.

“I don’t think they go Sadiq the tight end,” Schrager said on ESPN.

Buy or sell? I am selling the fact that Sadiq is an option for the Chiefs at No. 9. It’s way too rich. He’s a good player, but he’s a No. 2 tight end at best as a rookie. I’m not sure he’ll ever be a focal point in an offense. He wasn’t even the focal point of his offense in college. You could convince me at 29 or in a trade-up from 29, but not at No. 9.

What does Peter Schrager think the Chiefs will do at pick No. 9?

I’ve mentioned that ESPN’s Peter Schrager is well-connected in Kansas City. So, what exactly does he think the Chiefs will do at pick No. 9? He revealed his position on Monday.

“I think the Chiefs are one of the wide receivers or one of the pass rushers if they fall,” Schrager said. “And then (Ohio State S) Caleb Downs and (LSU CB) Mansoor Delane, if they’re on the board, possibilities as well.”

Buy or sell? This could be smoke, being that Schrager is well-connected in Kansas City. He says no to the O-Line and to Sadiq. I think I’ll buy it, though. Wide receivers, pass rushers, and Downs make the most sense to me in terms of impact at pick No. 9. I’m not sure I feel the same way about Delane right now, but I could get there.