With the 2026 NFL Draft officially in the history books, it’s time to evaluate exactly how Chiefs general manager Brett Veach fared as he navigated the franchise through Kansas City's seven new selections, by grading each pick.
Round 1 - Pick 6 - CB Mansoor Delane
It seems as though all that smoke from the draft “experts” about the Chiefs prioritizing offensive tackle early in the draft was nothing more than masterful misdirection from the Chiefs' entire front office. Instead, Veach upholds his aggressive nature and trades up from pick nine, along with picks No. 74 and No. 148, to grab LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.
The consensus top cover corner in the draft, Delane, has the potential to be an All-Pro as early as this upcoming season. The potential Trent McDuffie replacement is bigger, standing 6’0”, and weighing in at 190 lbs, with better ball skills, and his versatility allows Steve Spagnuolo to use him all over the field. Given the investment required to acquire Delane, the Chiefs likely see him as their CB1 on the outside for years to come. This could spell trouble for veteran Kristian Fulton, who already missed most of the 2025 season with injuries.
Grade: A+ player, B- trade
Round 1 - Pick 29 - DT Peter Woods
The first round pick gained from the McDuffie trade landed the Chiefs one of the best defensive tackles in the draft, Peter Woods. The 21-year-old is just scratching the surface of what he can truly be, after weight fluctuations and poor coaching over his last two years at Clemson stunted his growth.
Woods is a true three-tech defensive tackle, standing 6’3” and 310 lbs, with off-the-charts athleticism and explosiveness off the line that Andy Reid compared to Aaron Donald. He complements a DT room led by Chris Jones, Omarr Norman-Lott, and Khyiris Tonga, that is now four-deep. The fastest route to the quarterback is a straight line, and Woods' pass-rush ability from the interior will hopefully fuel a much-improved team sack total from last year.
Grade: A+
Round 2 - Pick 40 - DE R Mason Thomas
A surprise pick from Kansas City was its acquisition of Oklahoma speed rusher R Mason Thomas early on Day 2. The investment in an edge rusher was much needed, even after adding Woods, as the Chiefs found someone who is the polar opposite of George Karlaftis, who wins with burst, bend, and violence. Thomas is not only a great athlete, but he also boasts a production profile that is rare for a second-round pick.
In his final two years at Oklahoma, Thomas posted 15.5 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, and scored two defensive touchdowns off forced fumbles. Plugging him into the edge room frees up the pressure Karlaftis will see snap by snap, and allows Ashton Gillotte to play within his game without feeling pressure to perform above his capability. This move also could impact former first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who, after missing all of 2025 with a hamstring injury, might be fighting for a roster spot come training camp.
Grade: B+
Round 4 - Pick 109 - CB Jadon Canady
The Chiefs continued to address their need at corner with Oregon’s Jadon Canady in the fourth round. After two years at both Tulane and Ole Miss, Jadon Canady finished out his college career in Eugene, where he flourished, allowing just 6.1 yards per reception, the lowest number of any corner in this year’s draft. He forced three turnovers and has a nose for the ball. At a smaller 5’11”, 185 lbs, Canady is a pure nickel/slot corner, which is music to Chiefs Kingdom's ears.
His addition allows Spags to stop using Chamarri Conner in the slot so much, where the defender has struggled mightily. This pick, however, does make me question Kansas City's thinking and overall process with the signing of Kader Kohou just weeks ago. Kohou, another primary slot corner, was meant to take over the role, but now, with Canady, his job looks a lot more murky.
Grade: B
Round 5 - Pick 161 - RB Emmett Johnson
If it wasn’t clear that Kansas City was not pleased with the running back room last year, then a small trade-up from No. 169 to No. 161, and a pick swap from No. 210 to No. 249 to acquire Johnson seals it. After signing Kenneth Walker III to a massive three-year contract and bringing in Emari Demarcado as a solid RB2, Johnson completes the offseason rehaul of the RB position. Emmett Johnson brings a different level of versatility and short-yardage expertise to this Chiefs backfield.
Johnson broke out in a big way last year at Nebraska, totaling 1,451 rushing yards for 12 touchdowns, while also being a receiving threat, catching 46 balls for another 370 yards. The fact that he fell to the fifth round was a shock to many, especially because he forced the most missed tackles (68) of any running back in the draft. As a player, Johnson is a steal, especially at his value. His addition, however, raises red flags all over the Chiefs' seventh-round pick last year, Brashard Smith, who at this point could really be on the outside looking in.
Grade: C+
Round 5 - Pick 176 - WR Cyrus Allen
One of my favorite late-round targets for the Chiefs going into the draft came to fruition when they selected Cincinnati receiver Cyrus Allen. As one of the best separators in the entire draft, Allen excels at route running on all three levels of the field. As evident by his 13 TDs in 2025, Allen gets free so cleanly and consistently, helping to mitigate the fact that he is a smaller 5’11”, 180 lbs.
Kansas City decided to go heavy defense early in the draft, despite its long-term need for a cornerstone receiver that Patrick Mahomes can count on. While I don’t think Allen has the size or overall skill level to transcend to that, his playing a more gadget-type role in his rookie year, with some kick-return chops, could earn him a spot on this roster fast.
Grade: A-
Round 7 - Pick 249 - QB Garrett Nussmeier
A potential Patrick Mahomes replacement? Not quite, but Nussmeier is a really intriguing quarterback prospect with years of starting experience at LSU. Most analysts expected him to go no later than round four, but countless injuries have kept him from really maintaining a constant rhythm. Nussmeier is a smaller-type pocket thrower, but has impressive arm talent and operates well post-snap.
The Chiefs have long recycled through countless one-year veteran-type backup options, and in the past, it has served them well. Thank you, Chad Henne. But after signing the athletic Justin Fields this offseason and now drafting Nussmeier, there seems to be a signal that Reid wants to develop young talent at quarterback. And who better for the rookie to learn from than the MVP himself?
Grade: A+
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