The 2026 NFL Draft is just about a week away.

The Kansas City Chiefs have been doing a good job of keeping their plans tight-lipped, as they wrap up pre-draft visits. Brett Veach has one of the most important NFL Drafts of his career ahead of him, but it’ll be a unique challenge as this is a unique draft. Those who tout positional value as king will be left disappointed, but those who follow their gut and just go after good players will be rewarded. That’ll especially be the case early on in the draft.

There are a few things that I expect from the Chiefs during the draft that I tried to replicate here, using the A to Z Sports Mock Draft Simulator. First, Brett Veach will trade up at some point. I wouldn’t put it past him to target someone in the middle of Round 1 and use pick No. 29 to move up even further. Second, I won’t be shocked if the team waits to draft an edge rusher until after Day 1. I know the hit rate lessens, but there are a lot of guys who fit what they like in that second-round pocket of players.

Chiefs pick Ohio State S Caleb Downs at No. 9

The first eight picks went as follows:

• LV: Fernando Mendoza
• NYJ: David Bailey
• ARI: Sonny Styles
• TEN: Francis Mauigoa
• NYG: Arvell Reese
• CLE: Carnell Tate
• WAS: Jeremiyah Love
• NO: Rueben Bain Jr.

In this scenario, I think the choice is clearly Downs. I believe he’ll be one of the true impact players to emerge from the top of this draft class. The positional value might not be there for other clubs, but everyone knows how important the safety position is in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. It thrives when they have savvy, instinctive players. When you look at the Chiefs’ safety room right now, it really lacks that type of player. Downs can be that guy.

He’s plenty versatile in that he can be used as a deep safety, strong safety, or even a nickel corner. That last part is important because I am not sure the Chiefs have a true solution there right now. Downs can erase tight ends in man coverage. His downhill trigger in the run game is phenomenal. He’s got a nose for the football with six interceptions, 12 passes defended, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries in three years.

All he’s done is rack up awards during his college career, whether at Alabama or Ohio State. SEC Freshman of the Year, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year. He also won the Jim Thorpe Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy in 2025. Maybe he can add Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2026.

Kansas City trades up with Panthers to pick Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq at No. 19

Trade terms: Panthers receive picks Nos. 29 and 74 for pick No. 19.

Sadiq being in Kansas City for a pre-draft visit on the same day that Travis Kelce signed his contract extension doesn’t feel like a coincidence. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Chiefs really like Sadiq and envision him as more of an offensive weapon than just a traditional tight end.

At 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds, Sadiq’s 40-yard dash, vertical jump, and broad jump at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine landed him in the 99th percentile among tight ends. If I compare his athletic testing as a wide receiver in the A to Z Sports Athletic Composite, he begins to look more like Calvin Johnson.

Chiefs trade down with Vikings to pick Michigan EDGE Derrick Moore at No. 49

Trade terms: Chiefs receive picks Nos. 49 and 97 for No. 40.

I could’ve stayed at pick No. 40, but I felt like there were enough cornerbacks, edge rushers, and receivers on the board to move down. In doing so, I got a third-round pick back, and I still managed to get a very good pass rusher. At 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, Moore had 10 sacks and a 36% pass rush win rate in 2025. He was a standout at the Senior Bowl and plays with the type of tenacity that the Chiefs could really use at the edge rusher position right now.

Kansas City picks Miami OT Markell Bell at pick No. 97

Some might view this as a reach, but I see Bell as a top-100 pick. The reality is that only 7 prospects measured with arms 34 inches or longer at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. Brett Veach has drafted a lot of offensive tackles since taking over in 2017, but none with arms shorter than 34 inches. Bell is listed at 6-foot-9 and 346 pounds, and he’s surprisingly nimble and light on his feet. The crazy thing is that he’s only 21. He started 16 games at left tackle last season, but I’d feel comfortable putting him on the right side if I were Kansas City. He could even probably play the swing tackle role if you feel confident in Jaylon Moore at right tackle.

Chiefs pick Stephen F. Austin CB Charles Demmings at No. 109

The cornerback room needs an infusion of talent, and Demmings is a solid late-round target for Kansas City. The FCS star tested well ahead of the draft with a 4.41s 40-yard dash, 42-inch vertical, and an 11-foot broad jump. Demmings was First-Team All-Southland Conference in 2025, finishing his career with 26 pass breakups and nine interceptions. He fits the outside cornerback mold for Steve Spagnuolo, with a makeup perfect for the press-man looks he likes to run on the perimeter.

KC Chiefs pick LSU WR Barion Brown at No. 148

The Chiefs value special teams more highly than other NFL clubs. Last season, they weren’t good in the kick return or punt return game, but Brown could help them fix that. The 5-foot-11 and 190-pound receiver holds the SEC record for career kickoff returns for a touchdown, finishing his collegiate career with six. He had five at Kentucky and one at LSU. Don’t let the special teams prowess fool you, though. Brown had 175 receptions for over 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns throughout his career.

Chiefs pick Michigan DT Rayshaun Benny at No. 169

I like the idea of pairing former college teammates Benny and Moore on the defensive line. At 6-foot-3 and 298 pounds, Benny left a strong impression on Kansas City at the Senior Bowl. He hasn’t started a lot of games, but he’s already proven himself as an elite rotational defender in college. If he can add to his pass-rush repertoire in the NFL, the sky is the limit.

Kansas City picks Arkansas LB Xavian Sorey at No. 176

Another Senior Bowl standout, who worked directly with Chiefs defensive quality control coach Chris Orr. At 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds, he’s instinctive, with an impressive downhill trigger. He’s not someone you want matched up in man coverage, but if he’s in zone and can keep the play in front of him, he’s a major standout.

Chiefs pick Central Michigan EDGE Michael Heldman at No. 210

I’ve taken Heldman before in a mock draft, but this time I grabbed him a round later:

Hits all of the traditional Spags thresholds at 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds. He also boasts one of the best true pass rush win rates (40.4) in the 2026 NFL Draft, behind only Nadame Tucker. He made First-Team All-MAC in 2025, boasting 16.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. High effort and motor player.