As we get closer to the 2026 NFL Draft, rumors about what the Kansas City Chiefs might do with the No. 9 pick are swirling.

How exactly can fans parse through what is real and what is fake? Chiefs GM Brett Veach is probably the only one who truly knows that. However, looking back at the 2017 NFL Draft might give us the context we need to consider in 2026.

Kansas City Chiefs were deceptive about who they were targeting when they traded up for Patrick Mahomes in 2017

Former Chiefs assistant GM and current Tennessee Titans GM Mike Borgonzi recently revealed some details about the team’s 2017 pursuit of Patrick Mahomes. Kansas City traded up with the Buffalo Bills to pick No. 10 to secure the superstar quarterback, but they were sweating bullets the whole time. They were so nervous about missing out on Mahomes that they had to manufacture a story to teams about the player they were moving up for.

“Yeah, we were very nervous,” Borgonzi said. “I mean, we tried to get up to the top of the draft. We tried to get up to one, and we went down the list, you know, we got to 10, we got to Buffalo, and we leaked out that we were trading up for (Alabama LB) Reuben Foster. I don’t know if anybody believed it, but we leaked it out.”

The Kansas City Chiefs even hosted Foster on a pre-draft visit, which helped to sell their fib to teams on draft day.

#Bama LB Reuben Foster visited the #Chiefs today, source said. He’s got a #Jaguars visit tomorrow, as well.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 4, 2017

So what does this have to do with the 2026 NFL Draft for the Chiefs? Picking at the bottom of the round each year, it doesn’t make much sense to engage in deceptive tactics like this. There are simply too many variables before you come on the clock. Sitting at No. 9 overall, though? That’s an entirely different story.

Parsing through recent Chiefs 2026 NFL Draft rumors

Do the Chiefs really like Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson?

There’s some buzz for Jordyn Tyson as a potential option for the Chiefs, with Peter Schrager’s recent mock draft leading the charge. There have been no reports that Kansas City had Tyson in for a top-30 visit, which is concerning given his medicals and the Chiefs’ standards there. They like to bring in guys with injury history to check out their medicals and get a sense of them. They’ve also brought in the two other receivers — USC’s Makai Lemon and Ohio State’s Carnell Tate — who are projected to go early in Round 1.

K.C. did have a formal meeting with Tyson at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. There, he met with Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy. Those two share ties, as both were former Colorado Buffaloes. Tyson transferred after his freshman season in what was a not-so-clean exit. Buffs head coach Deion Sanders recently had high praise for Tyson, sharing it publicly on his X account in February of 2026.

Tyson didn’t work out at the combine or the Arizona State Pro Day due to a hamstring injury, but will have an upcoming private workout with teams ahead of the draft. ESPN’s Matt Miller recently said he’s “trending in the wrong direction” and could slide in the draft as a result. The conspiracy theorist in me wonders if it all isn’t some elaborate pre-draft ruse to ensure that Tyson lands in Kansas City. The purported interest in Tyson could also be part of a plot to land an entirely different player.

What to make of the offensive tackle buzz for the Chiefs

There has been a ton of smoke surrounding the Chiefs’ interest in offensive tackles leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, but is there actually fire? Daniel Jeremiah recently had the Chiefs take Utah’s Spencer Fano at No. 9 overall in a mock draft. Some have suggested that Kansas City is a team that really likes Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor. Todd McShay says it won’t be Miami RT Francis Mauigoa. The big question that fans are asking regarding an offensive tackle is: Why?

Yes, the Chiefs released starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor and technically have a hole there. They also have six different options on the 90-man roster to play the right tackle position, including Jaylon Moore, who has a top-10 contract value on the team. Josh Simmons was a gem at left tackle when he was on the field last season, so there’s no need on that side. Protecting Patrick Mahomes is obviously important, but they have bodies for healthy competition there. They could realistically find both a starter and a swing tackle without making another addition there.

What this all feels like to me is some posturing to get teams that need offensive tackles to take them before pick No. 9. That could be teams picking ahead of the Chiefs, or the teams looking to move up. If executed, it may push some offensive skill players and edge rushers further down the draft board.

On the flip side, the Kansas City Chiefs have seen what offensive tackle injuries can do to this team. Just last season, they were down to their fourth and fifth options by the end of the year. If faced with taking the top offensive tackle prospect at No. 9 or a lesser prospect at another position, I could realistically see the appeal to go tackle.

Is Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq an option at No. 9 for Kansas City?

Todd McShay recently spoke with Albert Breer, discussing Sadiq to the Chiefs at No. 9. I’m not so sure I buy this one. Only four tight ends in league history have been drafted within the first nine picks of the NFL Draft. Kyle Pitts is the most recent, followed by T.J. Hockenson, Vernon Davis, and Kellen Winslow. I look at the production of all those players throughout their college careers, and the idea gives me pause.

Player	Games	Receptions	Yards	TDs
Kyle Pitts	32	100	1,492	18
T.J. Hockenson	26	70	1,080	9
Vernon Davis	35	83	1,371	9
Kellen Winslow	36	119	1365	9
Kenyon Sadiq	42	80	892	11

The Chiefs haven’t shown any public-facing interest in Sadiq. No 2026 NFL Scouting Combine formal or top-30 visits have been reported with the Oregon Duck. This is certainly one where they could be keeping their interest off the radar. Knowing that he’d be the No. 2 tight end at best for Kansas City in 2026, I feel like it’d be a poor use of resources if he’s the pick at No. 9. However, if the Chiefs believe he can become the same quality of player as Winslow, Davis, Hockensen, or Pitts, it might be worthwhile to make the long term investment.

Kansas City Chiefs could pass on DE Rueben Bain Jr. in Round 1

There have been a few recent NFL media mock drafts in which the Chiefs pass on Miami DE Rueben Bain Jr. at pick No. 9 in favor of other players. Fans can’t seem to fathom it, but I think it’s a strong possibility.

Kansas City did have a 2026 NFL Scouting Combine formal with Bain. They brought him in on Thursday, April 9, for a top-30 visit as well. The Chiefs’ need at the edge-rusher position is no secret among local media members, but the national media seem to gloss over the fact that they no longer have Mike Danna or Charles Omenihu. They also made no edge rusher additions in free agency.

While I’d be surprised to see the Chiefs pass on a talented player at a position of need, they’re clearly doing a lot of homework on Bain. They’re not the only team doing so, either. Sometimes that homework doesn’t turn out the way that fans might hope. Formal meetings happen with a wide range of players, but 30 visits are a bit different. They’re usually reserved for players the team is interested in, but needs more information on. Sometimes, they just haven’t spent enough time with that player. Other times, that information relates to a player’s medicals and injury history. Sometimes, it’s even a question of a player’s character off the field.

I don’t think arm length will be a factor in a decision to pass on Bain. Yes, he’s an outlier there, but it’s an overblown talking point. If they were to pass on him, there’d have to be something else there, whether past injury, something related to off-field, or just his overall fit with the team. It could simply be that they prefer another player who is available when the team comes on the clock, perhaps Texas Tech OLB David Bailey or Ohio State LB Arvell Reese. Perhaps one of the wide receivers, like Tate, is viewed as more impactful.

I personally tend to align with former Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy in the belief that Bain could become an All-Pro working under Joe Cullen. That’d be too good for me to pass up, but there’s always a chance that Brett Veach and company know something that others are not yet privy to.