The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2026 NFL Draft picks have all been assigned jersey numbers.

For some of the players, the decisions are deeply personal. For others, they didn’t have many options or give much thought to the decisions. They’ll still have another opportunity to change their jersey numbers after the team’s 53-man roster cuts. Think Tyreek Hill going from 81 to 10 back in 2016.

Here’s the story behind each rookie’s jersey number decision.

Mansoor Delane wanted something new with the Chiefs since his college number was taken

Delane went with No. 5 after becoming the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He wore No. 4 at LSU in college, but that number isn’t available in Kansas City at this time.

“Really wasn’t too many options,” Delane said. “But really, I just like this number, you know, and then I just feel like it was something new.”

Rashee Rice wears the No. 4 and won’t be surrendering that. However, if Rice were to leave in free agency after the 2026 NFL season, Delane could switch to the number. Think Trent McDuffie switching from No. 21 to No. 22 once Juan Thornhill left in free agency.

“Yeah, he got my number,” Delane continued. “I can’t do anything about that. He’s the vet. So I’m just fitting where I can.”

NFL rules say Peters Woods can’t wear his college number with the Chiefs

Woods would’ve stuck to his college No. 11 if he could’ve, but NFL rules prevent him from wearing it. Instead, he chose No. 99 from the options the team provided.

“Yeah, they didn’t have a lot of choices,” Woods said. “It was what I picked from the choices that I had. But I’ve always loved the number 99. I know, like D-Lineman in the NFL kind of got a different type of select number of choices. So I knew 11 wasn’t going to be an option. So 99 was the best next thing for me.”

As Woods says, defensive linemen can only wear jersey numbers 50–79 and 90–99 in the NFL.

R Mason Thomas isn’t married to 34, but chose it for a specific reason

Speaking of jersey-number rules, Thomas will likely be listed as a linebacker so he can wear No. 34. Why did he choose it? It was the closest available number to his college jersey.

“Closest to 32,” Thomas said. “You know, 32 is taken. Still open for numbers, though.”

Nick Bolton wears 32 for Kansas City, but Thomas isn’t married to the idea of No. 34. If another player leaves who has a better number, he could wind up changing before the start of the 2026 NFL season.

Jadon Canady looks up to the player who last wore his jersey number with the Chiefs

Asked about what it means to be able to wear the No. 22 jersey in Kansas City, Canady immediately brought up Trent McDuffie.

“Definitely a lot,” Canady said. “Just seeing the past four years, what it’s done for this team, seeing the player that he was here, Trent McDuffie. Watching his film. It’s a guy whose film I watch a lot. And I’m the same height and weight as him. So I might model my game around him, you know. Just take things from his game and form it into my own.”

Canady wore the No. 22 at Oregon, and McDuffie seems to be the inspiration behind it. He’s trying to live up to the jersey number with the Chiefs, knowing just how much success McDuffie saw wearing it.

Emmett Johnson has respect for those who wore his number before him, but wants to create his own legacy in Kansas City

Similarly, Emmett Johnson has a lot of respect for the history behind No. 10 in Kansas City. Especially the recent history with Tyreek Hill and Isiah Pacheco, two Super Bowl champions, wearing the number. He’s trying to blaze his own trail, but also has a unique connection to the No. 10.

“Yeah, man, just, you know, I had the opportunity to wear it,” Johnson said. “And I’ve got respect for the players that have worn this number in the past. But I’m trying to leave my legacy here, so that’s what I’m focused on. And my birthday is also October 10, 10/10, so it makes a lot of sense.”

Cyrus Allen had no say in his jersey number choice, but he’s not mad at it

Asked about his jersey number choice, Allen said he didn’t choose it himself. However, he isn’t upset by it.

“Nothing,” Allen said. “I didn’t have a say so on it… But that’s one of my favorite numbers. They probably saw me wear it at Cincinnati a little bit during the Senior Bowl game. So that was good, tremendous to get that number. So, I’m grateful for it.”

He actually wore the number during the Senior Bowl, where he caught a ton of attention for his route running.

Garrett Nussmeier confirms suspicions about his jersey number

Nussmeier wore three different jersey numbers at LSU, a telltale sign that he’s not a big jersey number guy. He confirmed that and says he’s simply happy to have an opportunity to play in Kansas City.

“Yeah, look, I’m just grateful to be here,” Nussmeier said. “You know, I’m excited for this opportunity. At the end of the day, a number isn’t everything.”