The Kansas City Chiefs' performance in the 2026 NFL Draft was a bit of a mixed bag. They went heavy on defense, which made sense to a degree, but it constantly felt like they were better prospects on the board.
While Patrick Mahomes may not necessarily be thrilled with the lack of high-end weapons GM Brett Veach got him, Jaylon Moore should be a very happy man right now. The Chiefs didn't do anything to address their glaring needs at offensive tackle, so he should be in for a starting role in 2026.
The Chiefs Should've Gone After an Offensive Tackle
Letting Jawaan Taylor go early in the offseason was a no-brainer move. He was an average blocker at best, a penalty machine, and was on a big contract. However, they did nothing to address his departure.
As things stand now, Jaylon Moore should be the leading candidate to start at right tackle, with second-year star Josh Simmons handling blindside protector duties. Given Moore's track record, that's not necessarily ideal.
Despite playing just 427 snaps as a fill-in starter, Moore gave up 27 total pressures, including two QB hits and three sacks. Pro Football Focus gave him a pass-blocking grade of 57.1, which ranked 72nd among 89 eligible tackles. He's a backup, a rotational piece, and someone who can give solid performances here and there, but not the type of guy you'd trust to be a full-time starter.
Admittedly, the Chiefs had to bolster the pass rush and replace Trent McDuffie, but it still felt like they could've done something with their offensive line. If anything, this class was stacked with tackle prospects in the first round and developmental guys in the following rounds.
As things stand now, the underwhelming Wanya Morris and the inexperienced Esa Pole are the Chiefs' only alternatives to Moore. Simmons missed some games with an injury and also had to leave midseason to attend to an undisclosed family matter, so there aren't any guarantees with him, either, because of the limited sample size.
Perhaps Veach isn't done making moves, and Taylor Decker is still available as a place-holding left tackle. They could move Simmons to the right side and keep Moore on the bench as a 'break the glass in case of emergency guy.'
Mahomes is coming off the first major injury of his career, and even if he's on the field by Week 1, it might be a while before he recovers his usual mobility and elusiveness. The last thing you want to do is put him in harm's way, and it feels like the Chiefs may have failed him.
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