The November 4 trade deadline is fast approaching, and teams will be looking to plug any gaps they might have in their ranks. But at the same time, the college football season is also on, and NFL front offices will be keeping their eyes peeled for potentially high-return prospects, who will be throwing their hat in the ring that is the 2026 Draft. And well, as far as the Kansas City Chiefs are concerned, one of their potential draft targets has been identified.

Per Bleacher Report, Tao  Johnson, a prospect from the Utah Utes, could be a top draft target for the Kansas  City  Chiefs. 

Johnson was a wide receiver when he first joined Utah, but in 2023, he completely switched positions to nickel and safety in the defensive secondary. In 2023, he recorded five pass break-ups, 33 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery. He recorded one interception, four pass break-ups, one forced fumble, and 70 tackles (2.0 TFL) in 2024. 

His performances helped the Utes rank No. 9 in the nation in terms of opposing quarterback rating (112) and No. 2 in terms of opponents’ completion percentage (52.9%). This season, he has already recorded 27 total tackles (2.0 TFL).

Among the conference’s returners in 2025, his 82.5 PFF grade from 2024 is behind just Houston’s C.J. Douglas (85.7) and TCU’s Bud Clark (89.8). There is potential for improvement in the Chiefs’ safety room after Justin Reid left in free agency. And with other secondaries placed on IR, Bryan Cook and Jaden Hicks have been carrying the team this season as far as safeties are concerned. 

Through the first seven weeks of the season, Cook has racked up 25 total tackles and two pass breakups. And after being selected in the 2024 draft from Washington State, Jaden Hicks has developed into a vital rotational player with 18 tackles and one stuff this season.

Other potential draft targets for the Chiefs’ safety unit could be A.J. Haulcy of LSU and Keon Sabb of Alabama.

All that said and done, there’s still some time for the 2026 Draft. But which positions could Andy Reid be looking as far as trades before the November 4 deadline is concerned?

Kansas City Chiefs could use immediate help in certain positions

One of the trade targets for the Chiefs could be New York Jets running back Breece Hall. Hall has been the subject of trade rumors since the offseason. And while head coach Aaron Glenn has said that he wants him to remain in New York, the Jets are sitting at 0-7, and the RB’s contract is going to run out after the season.

So there are chances that the Jets could consider a trade for him if they get something of value in return. Hall has rushed for a total of 445 yards this season. That’s already almost as much as the combined yardage recorded by Chiefs RBs Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco (476 yards).

As far as more immediate defensive reinforcements are concerned, the Chiefs could look for help on the D-line for now, considering Omarr Norman-Lott is out for the season with an ACL injury.

“I do think the Chiefs could add defensive linemen,” ESPN‘s Jeremy Fowler wrote. “They are depleted on the interior.”

Brett Veach, the general manager, needs to take bold action to fix both ends of the roster. Currently 4-3, the Chiefs are still competitive but unstable.