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Chad Reuter
Draft AnalystChiefs flip the top-10 script
A lot of mock drafts project Kansas City to take Francis Mauigoa in the top 10, but I predict the Chiefs select a different offensive tackle at No. 9 overall. Kadyn Proctor fits the team’s prototype for the position and could slip into the starting RT spot following the release of Jawaan Taylor. The gargantuan Alabama product could also stay on the blind side in a scenario where 2025 first-rounder Josh Simmons switches back to right tackle, where he started as a redshirt freshman at San Diego State.
The Chiefs have a strong track record of first-round trades. Kansas City has made a trade involving a first-round pick in seven of the last 10 drafts, with mostly strong results — including the 2017 deal that landed Patrick Mahomes.
The No. 29 pick came from trading cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams in March. That deal also netted a fifth-round pick, a sixth-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick.
Wide receiver could be the pick at No. 9. With Hollywood Brown now in Philadelphia and Rashee Rice entering a contract season, the position checks the boxes of team need, positional value and available talent — with Makai Lemon, Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson potentially on the board.
Edge rusher and cornerback are also major needs. Free agency departures including McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Mike Danna created holes. Many mock drafts project top edge rushers off the board before No. 9, which could push that position to No. 29.
Justin Fields sees similarity between Chiefs, Steelers after joining Kansas City | BolaVIP
Justin Fields has everything it takes to be a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs during this new stage of his career. During his early interactions with his teammates, he noticed a winning mentality that reminded him of his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“Just the winning, to be honest, finding ways to win. Just having that culture, similar to when I was in Pittsburgh, just that winning mindset. You can tell why that happens,”
1 Prospect Each Team Must Avoid in 2026 NFL Draft | Bleacher Report
Kansas City Chiefs: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
The Chiefs haven’t picked in the top 10 of the draft since 2017. They took some guy named Patrick Mahomes.
If they play things right and get things back on track, this will be the last time they pick in the top 10 for a long time. That’s why rolling the dice on Jordyn Tyson is not a risk worth taking for Kansas City at No. 9.
Tyson is the ninth-ranked prospect on our big board and our top receiver by a narrot margin over Carnell Tate. But the injury risk has to be acknowledged.
Tyson has a concerning history of injury that needs to be considered. He tore his ACL, MCL and PCL as a freshman at Colorado and only played in nine games last season as he dealt with a hamstring issue down the stretch of his final collegiate campaign.
His skills will make him a tempting selection for a team that needs young playmakers to step up. However, needs at offensive tackle and edge-rusher should leave Kansas City with better, higher-floor selections.
Mansoor Delane would be a terrible top-10 pick for the Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Addict
Just to be clear, this isn’t about Mansoor Delane being overrated. Delane is 100% a first-round cornerback that feels like a very safe bet to be a quality cornerback from day one of his rookie season and should have a successful NFL career for years to come. The problem is that most experts agree he’s just shy of the true NFL shut-down corner tier prospect. If Delane was viewed as a Sauce Gardner/Jalen Ramsey/Darrelle Revis type of elite corner, he would be a surefire top five draft pick in a draft class that is seen as short on true elite talents, especially at the more premium positions.
Delane is incredibly fluid and excels in zone coverage and is very good in man coverage as well. He’s smart and has good technique. His size and speed are both good but fall just short of being ideal for a true shut-down corner that you can match up with any wide receiver in man coverage. While he ran an impressive 4.38 40-yard dash at his pro day, there are times on tape where really fast/twitchy wideouts can get away from him (KC Conception was one). While he plays physical, he isn’t overly strong, and his 30″ arms leave room for bigger/stronger wideouts to bully him a little at the catch point.
The Fox Sports commentator said a lot hinges on when Mahomes returns to the lineup and his overall recovery from the injury. Mahomes recently returned to the field for throwing work and Reid recently said there is a strong possibility that the star quarterback returns in time for Week 1.
“Can Steve Spagnuolo on defense continue to keep that defense rolling and carry the load with Chris Jones and some of those other good pieces? Sure,” Olsen said. “But make no mistake about it, your team is not as good without Patrick Mahomes than it is with Patrick Mahomes. The number one priority of that organization is getting him healthy on whatever timeline that is.
“If he’s not back for Week 1, so be it, because they got to ensure that when Patrick Mahomes is back, he is 100% the Patrick mahomes that we’ve seen for give or take a decade,” said Olsen. “They keep him lined up behind center, that is their two of their number one priorities this season. And from there, we’ll see how the draft goes. We’ll see. Can they continue to find some more offensive pieces to solidify the O-line? A couple other question marks that are out there, but never count out Mahomes, never count out Andy Reid. They’ve been doing it at a high level for a long time.”
Around the NFL
“I’ve had some difficult conversations with people that I care about, with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players,” said Vrabel, who earned his second AP NFL Coach of the Year award last season while leading the Patriots to a Super Bowl appearance.
“Those have been positive and productive. We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me, that starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction. Those are comments and questions that I’ve answered for the team and with the team. We’ll keep those private and to ourselves.”
Notably, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ESPN’s Ben Strauss that the league is not reviewing whether Vrabel violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy, which states that players, coaches and executives must not engage in “conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in” the NFL.
Vrabel started his Tuesday statement by thanking the assembled media for their patience in what he described as a “personal and private matter” for both him and everybody involved.
Jets GM: Don’t read into canceled visit with DE prospect Bailey | ESPN
Two days before the NFL draft, the New York Jets’ preference with the second overall choice is still shrouded in mystery. It’s expected to be either Ohio State’s Arvell Reese or Texas Tech’s David Bailey, whose scheduled top-30 visit last week was canceled by the Jets.
Don’t read anything into that, according to general manager Darren Mougey.
“In regard to David, we had good touch points with him at the combine, we went to his pro day, had a good dinner with him, and we were just kind of juggling our 30 [visits] and how to use them,” Mougey said Tuesday at a predraft news conference. “I wouldn’t look too much into a cancellation because there was other ones that we may have changed as well.”
Mike Tomlin to join NBC’s Sunday night NFL pregame show: Sources | The Athletic
Mike Tomlin, one of the most intriguing NFL TV prospects in years, is headed to NBC to be a top studio analyst on its Sunday night pregame show, “Football Night in America,” sources briefed on the move told The Athletic on Tuesday.
Tomlin, 54, has been eyed by sports TV executives for more than a decade because of his success as a Super Bowl-winning Steelers coach, his knowledge of the game and his unique phraseology.
Fox showed some interest in Tomlin, but NBC had the biggest need for his services. The network is reimagining its pregame show, a move that has already led to Tony Dungy’s dismissal after 17 seasons.
The roles of Rodney Harrison, Jac Collinsworth and Chris Simms are also in question as the network seeks more current star power and fewer people on the show. NBC Sports declined to comment.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Mock Draft Scenario: If an AP analyst was the Chiefs’ general manager
Trade up from pick No. 9 to pick No. 3: Arvell Reese, Outside Linbacker, Ohio State
Chiefs trade picks No. 9 and No. 29 to the Arizona Cardinals for No. 3 and No. 104
Kansas City is in a rare position as a perennial Super Bowl contender picking in the top 10 after a down season, while also holding extra draft capital from trading cornerback Trent McDuffie. With an already strong core in place, the Chiefs are one of the few contenders where moving up makes real sense.
The ninth pick offers a chance to secure a franchise cornerstone for the next decade, which should be the priority. Rather than addressing only short-term needs, the Chiefs should focus on sustaining the long-term championship window.
The biggest long-term concern is the defensive line. Chris Jones is 32 years old and nearing the later stages of his prime. Replacing his impact will only become harder when the team returns to drafting near the end of the first round. Acquiring that type of player later often requires multiple first-round picks for an older, more expensive veteran.
That makes trading up now the smarter move: give up less capital, land an elite talent on a rookie deal and develop him in-house through his prime years.
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Category: General Sports
