The 2026 NFL Draft will be here before you know it, and it’s proving to be a pivotal one for Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach.

While the team has made improvements during the 2026 NFL free agency period, both sides of the ball need an infusion of talent to elevate this team back to championship caliber after a down season in 2025. How could the 2026 NFL Draft play out for the Chiefs? We used our brand new mock draft simulator to try to answer that question.

The A to Z Sports NFL mock draft simulator offers a deeply customizable and data-driven experience with never-before-seen features. Try the mock draft simulator today, before the 2026 NFL Draft arrives!

9. Ohio State WR Carnell Tate

Listed at 6-foot-2.25 and 192 pounds, there are a lot of people down on the 21-year-old Tate after his 4.53 40-yard dash time at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. However, that might actually work in the Chiefs’ favor regarding the likelihood that Tate drops to No. 9 overall. It’s hard to be concerned about his ability to separate in man coverage, given his 77.3% career success rate. If you look at his dropped passes, you’ll find a big fat zero in the stat column, and his 20+ yard reception highlight reel from 2025 is over two minutes long.

Tate is one of the few players whom we know the Chiefs have hosted on both a top-30 visit and met with formally at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana. That type of stuff has mattered in the past for Kansas City, which makes me think that Tate is a strong target for the team in 2026.

29. Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor

A polarizing prospect because of his weight, there’s legitimate buzz surrounding the Chiefs’ interest in Proctor as a potential right tackle of the future. It’s easy to see what they like about him after posting a 93.7 A to Z Sports Athletic Composite at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, given his 6-foot-7 and 353-pound size. There’s no doubt the Chiefs like the occasions where he’s been able to catch the ball as a receiver and convert in short-yardage situations. He’s a rare athlete for his size, moving extremely well in space and generating some serious power in the run game. Pass protection has been Proctor’s major weakness, as he has struggled to quiet his feet and play under control at times. It’ll be the biggest area of improvement at the next level.

40. UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence

Lawrence is regarded as one of the fastest-rising edge prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. When I look at the players the Chiefs have tried to hit on recently as speed-rusher prototypes, Lawrence feels like one who can actually make it happen. He’s the definition of fast and explosive at 6-foot-4 and 253 pounds. Lawrence ran a 99th percentile 40-yard dash (4.53s), jumped a 98th percentile vertical jump (40 inches), and jumped a 99th percentile broad jump (130 inches) at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. The athleticism translates on the field, with a 19.2% pass-rush win rate in 2025 at UCF. He boasts a deep pass-rush toolkit, knowing how to combine his length and hands to create advantages.

74. Ohio State CB Davison Igbinosun

If the Chiefs miss out on the first two tiers of cornerback prospects in this draft class, Igbinosun is the player to target in Round 3. He’s got a ton of experience with 2,800 career snaps in three seasons with the Ole Miss Rebels and one season at Ohio State. He’s a long physical cornerback prospect at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, who overcame serious penalty issues in 2024 (16) to post a career-best 42.6 passer rating with only five penalties in 2025. He projects as an outside-only corner, but would be very solid depth behind Nohl Williams and Kristian Fulton.

109. Penn State DT Zane Durant

Slightly undersized at 6-foot-1 and 290 pounds, Durant fits as a two-gapping three-technique. It’s a role the Chiefs haven’t quite found a solution for since Tershawn Wharton left the club as a free agent in 2025. 89 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks with Penn State across 54 games over four seasons. An interior defensive line group comprised of Chris Jones, Khyiris Tonga, Omarr Norman-Lott, and Durant could really add some juice to the team’s pass-rush effectiveness.

148. Houston TE Tanner Koziol

Koziol is known for his pass-catching ability with 237 receptions for 2,234 yards and 24 touchdowns across three seasons at Ball State and one season at Houston. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 257 pounds, he has room to improve as a blocker. Koziol actually compares favorably to former Chiefs tight end Jason Dunn as an athlete, posting a 4.7 40-yard dash, a 36.5-inch vertical, and a 122-inch broad jump at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.

169. Miami S Jakobe Thomas

A safety prospect who weighs in at 6-foot-1 and 211 pounds, Thomas has the range to play deep safety, can come up into the box as an enforcer or blitzer, and has the chops to play nickel, too. He only allowed a 56.8 passer rating in coverage in 2025, recording five interceptions and six passes broken up on the year for Miami. Missed tackles will be something he has to clean up at the NFL level, but there’s a lot to like about his ability to contribute as a Day 3 pick.

174. Arizona State LB Keyshaun Elliott (via projected trade w/ BAL)

The Chiefs rarely go through a draft without moving around, so this time I’m projecting some late-round maneuvering. It’s a steep price to pay to move up just two spots (picks No. 176 and No. 210 for No. 174 and No. 253), but K.C. lands a player with whom they’re familiar, as Elliott is a Kansas City native. He was also coached by Chiefs defensive quality control coach Chris Orr at the Senior Bowl. The 6-foot-2 and 231-pound linebacker has experience wearing the green dot, but could also play outside linebacker spots for Steve Spagnuolo. He projects as a special teams ace for Dave Toub as well.

253. Iowa WR Kaden Wetjen (via projected trade w/ BAL)

I was targeting Pitt RB Desmond Reid with this pick, but Wetjen is a good consolation prize to fill a very particular need for the team. They require upgrades on special teams, including kick and punt returns, providing competition for both Nikko Remigio and Brashard Smith. The 5-foot-9 and 193-pound receiver had 53 kick returns for 1,538 yards and two touchdowns, plus 54 punt returns for 938 yards and four punt return touchdowns over three seasons with the Hawkeyes.

Kansas City Chiefs News

Tracking every report of Kansas City Chiefs’ pre-draft visits with 2026 NFL Draft prospects

Keeping track of every reported pre-draft visit for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Charles Goldman