The Kansas City Chiefs went from Super Bowl runner-ups to picking ninth overall in just one season. It’s hard to see a perennial Super Bowl contender fall off the map as the Chiefs did in just one season, but they’ve made some moves this offseason and have loaded up on draft capital to hopefully make a playoff run again in 2026.

As we count down the days until the NFL Draft, we at EssentiallySports have been pumping out a 7-round mock draft a day until we cover all 32 NFL teams. Today, it’s time for the Chiefs. And let me just say, I really love this mock.

Round 1, Pick 9: WR Makai Lemon

I know there are people out there who don’t like Makai Lemon as a prospect, but I think he’s going to be a fantastic receiver in the NFL. He has shades of Amon-Ra St. Brown to him. I’m not saying he’s going to go for 1,400 yards every season, but he can be a dominant slot receiver for a long, long time.

I really debated going with Jordyn Tyson here because I think he’s the best wideout in this draft, but his medicals are very scary, and the last thing Kansas City needs is another receiver that can’t stay on the field (Rashee Rice). By grabbing Lemon, they get a slot guy that can demand 100+ targets every year and be Patrick Mahomes’ best friend.

Corner and offensive tackle were also in consideration here, but I believe Lemon would fit into this Chiefs offense like a glove.

Round 1, Pick 29: OT Max Iheanachor

I’m a big fan of Max Iheanachor. Anytime you can get a guy who has 1,000+ career pass-blocking snaps and has only given up two sacks in his career, AND he’s only 22 years old, I think you have to take him. Especially if you have a big need at tackle, which the Chiefs do.

A lot of people (myself included) expect the Chiefs to take a corner in the first round, but I believe they’re going to address their tackle need in the first round. There’s a lot of really good tackles at the end of the first round, but I think the corner depth in round two is probably better than the tackle depth. That’s why I have Kansas City using their second-round selection on…

Round 2, Pick 40: CB Chris Johnson

I think Chris Johnson is talented enough to be a first-round pick. He’s 6 feet tall, 193 pounds, runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, and has a 38-inch vertical. He is obviously a tremendous athlete, but he’s also produced on the field.

In 2025, Johnson allowed just 41.9 percent of his targets to be caught for 185 yards and no touchdowns while picking off four passes and breaking up five more. There are obviously concerns about the talent level he faced at San Diego State, but you don’t put up those types of numbers by mistake.

After trading away Trent McDuffie and letting Jaylen Watson walk in free agency, the Chiefs need to get a cornerback in the top-50. They very well could pick one at nine or 29, but if they can walk away with Lemon, Iheanachor, and Johnson with their first three picks, they would feel really good about their draft.

Round 3, Pick 74: DE Romello Height

Romello Height is a name that’s gaining a lot of traction right now, so he may not actually make it this far on draft night, but for now, he’s a projected mid-round pick, and the Chiefs would be ecstatic to get him at pick No. 74.

Height was overshadowed by David Bailey, who led the nation in sacks last year, but he was very efficient himself, finishing the year with 62 pressures and 10 sacks. On top of that, Height showed out at the combine, running a 4.64-second 40-yard dash with a 39-inch vertical and a 10-foot, 5-inch broad jump. And he did that at 6-foot-3, 239 pounds.

He’s obviously a bit undersized for an edge rusher, but the league has been transitioning to smaller, more athletic defensive ends for years. He could fit right into the Chiefs’ edge rusher room and be productive right away.

Round 4, Pick 109: TE Michael Trigg

Michael Trigg is one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the draft. Last year at Baylor, Trigg caught 50 passes for 694 yards and six touchdowns and had four games with 70+ receiving yards. He was in a pass-heavy offense, but he’s a great athlete with a ton of receiving upside.

Obviously, Kansas City would like to find a tight end with better blocking abilities, but in round four, you’re not going to find many with the receiving upside he possesses. And with Travis Kelce almost certainly retiring next year, they need someone to fill his role as a pass catcher.

Round 5, Pick 148: DT Kaleb Proctor

Kaleb Proctor is a really interesting mid-round prospect. He’s a bit small for a defensive tackle at 6-foot-3, but he’s 280 pounds and is very athletic. At the combine, he ran a 4.79-second 40-yard dash with a 33-inch vertical, both of which are very good for his position. He’s also produced a ton in college, recording eight sacks last year. His big knock is that he played at Southeastern, so he didn’t play against that great of opponents.

I filled all of the Chiefs’ big needs in the first four rounds, so now it’s about finding quality players that can provide some depth at key positions. Proctor is a very good defensive tackle who may take some time adjusting to the NFL level, but he can sit behind Chris Jones and learn early in his career.

Round 5, Pick 169: OT Markel Bell

Francis Mauigoa is getting all of the love, but his teammate, Markel Bell, didn’t give up a single sack and just 15 pressures in 16 games last season. I know he’s not quite the athlete his teammate is, but he’s massive and has a lot of promise as a pass protector, so I think he’d be a great fifth-round pickup.

I don’t know if Bell could step in and start right away, but he would give Kansas City a really good backup tackle in case one of their starters goes down. Or, he could maybe even move inside and provide some help there. He’s got pass protection skills that could be put to use right away.

Round 5, Pick 176: WR Cyrus Allen

The Chiefs shouldn’t be done adding receiver help after taking Makai Lemon ninth overall. They still need some more depth at the position, and in round five, the best receiver still on the board was Cyrus Allen from Cincinnati.

After a 51-catch, 674-yard, 13-touchdown season, Allen lit up his pro day with a 4.47-second 40-yard dash, a 38.5-inch vertical jump, and an 11-foot broad jump. He’s an explosive athlete with plenty of college production. He is another slot receiver, but he’s definitely the best receiver available at this point, so I wasn’t picky.

Round 6, Pick 210: LB Red Murdock

This late in the draft, you’re just trying to find a player with upside, and Red Murdock has that. He’s 6 feet 2, 232 pounds, and set the NCAA record for forced fumbles in a career with 17. He also has 362 career tackles and nine sacks, and 39.5 tackles for loss over the past three seasons. He’s not a great athlete, and he played at Buffalo, but in round six, nabbing someone like him to add some depth at linebacker wasn’t a hard decision.