The Kansas City Chiefs' upcoming NFL Draft plans aren't clear to anyone, though most generally assume that they'll tackle the trenches after being overwhelmed by the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.
That said, general manager Brett Veach still could have a trick up his sleeve. During this incredible run, Veach has done wonders in the draft yet hasn't had the opportunity to utilize a marquee selection. Because Kansas City keeps winning, Veach is always forced to pick in the back-half of the first round.
With some obvious holes on the roster that need to be addressed though, the Chiefs have a special chance to make a trade up into the top-10 for the first time since Patrick Mahomes was selected.
Chiefs Trade Up to No. 8 in Blockbuster Predicted Trade
In this theoretical trade, the Chiefs send their first-rounder, one of their two 2025 third-rounders (in this case, the latter of the two), and their 2026 first-rounder to the Carolina Panthers in order to move up to No. 8 in the draft.
It's a hefty price to pay, yet would allow Kansas City to target an elite tackle, receiver, or defensive playmaker like Mykel Williams or Jalon Walker. This team almost never has the opportunity to take a swing like this, yet the fruits of the L'Jarius Sneed and Joe Thuney trades give them extra capital to work with.
Perhaps Veach doesn't believe that there's someone worth trading up for, yet it's still a worthwhile proposition to consider. It's a lot easier for the Chiefs to identify elite talent if they don't have to look in the weeds to accomplish it, and the Panthers make sense as a trade partner given their need to accumulate as much draft capital as possible.
This is a rare situation in which a deal makes sense for both parties. It's unlikely to happen in reality, though it's fun to imagine who Kansas City could turn into a star given the opportunity to draft in the top 10.