The Kansas City Chiefs haven’t had much to play for since they were eliminated from playoff contention a few weeks ago, but the players on the field in the season finale will be fighting for future roster spots. Meanwhile, fans will have their eyes on where the Chiefs could select in the 2026 draft.
The potential outcomes on Sunday could have Kansas City selecting as high as eighth if everything falls into their favor in Week 18. But their path to a top-ten pick became complicated when ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that wide receiver Chris Olave will sit out the New Orleans’s Saints finale against the Atlanta Falcons with a blood clot in his lungs.
While Schefter adds that Olave is expected to be okay for the offseason, it’s little help to a Chiefs team hoping for a high pick and adds to a complicated range of outcomes for the final week of the regular season.
Chris Olave’s Injury Adds Another Variable to Chiefs Draft Position
According to Tankathon, the Chiefs currently own the No. 9 spot in the draft with a 6-10 record.
Arrowhead Addict’s Braden Holecek also broke down the range of outcomes for Week 18, which could see the Chiefs pick as high as eighth if they lose to the Raiders and the Saints beat the Falcons but could fall as far as 12th based on the results of the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals.
- KC loss + NO win = Chiefs get 8th pick
- KC loss + ATL win = Chiefs get 9th pick
- KC win + MIA win + CIN win + ATL win = Chiefs get 9th pick
- KC win + MIA win + CIN win + NO win = Chiefs get 10th pick
- KC win + MIA win + CIN loss + ATL win = Chiefs get 10th pick
- KC win + MIA loss + CIN win + ATL win = Chiefs get 10th pick
- KC win + MIA win + CIN loss + NO win = Chiefs get 11th pick
- KC win + MIA loss + CIN win + NO win = Chiefs get 11th pick
- KC win + MIA loss + CIN loss + ATL win = Chiefs get 11th pick
- KC win + MIA loss + CIN loss + NO win = Chiefs get 12th pick
While the chances for each pick may look like Steiner Math to Chiefs fans, the biggest outcome that Olave’s injury has is on the eighth overall pick. Kansas City managing to pull off a loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, coupled with New Orleans winning over the Atlanta Falcons, would result in Brett Veach having the No. 8 selection at his disposal. That's the only scenario the Chiefs have to get the eighth pick, however, and it's much more difficult now with Olave missing this contest for the Saints.
Olave has had a strong rebound season in Nola, catching 100 passes for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns in 16 games after missing half of last season due to concussion issues. He also has been on fire as of late, scoring a touchdown in four of his past five games and clearing 100 yards in a Week 16 win over the New York Jets and a Week 17 win over the Titans.
Atlanta’s pass defense has been solid this season, ranking 11th with 198.4 passing yards per game. But having Olave on the field would have been a huge boost for Chiefs fans hoping for a higher pick.
After slogging through the 2025 season, KC would love to get an impact player in the first round to aid its reboot in 2026. Yet, the Chiefs may be forced to find that gem later in the draft than hoped if the Saints lose on Sunday.