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2026 offseason: High draft picks and Cap Hell

Clayton

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Feels like 3 months ago everyone was talking about the NFL rigging things for the Chiefs. Good times. Forward to the draft.

My Chiefs big board:

1. Jordyn Tyson WR. Assuming he is healthy, of course, he is a high floor, med high ceiling WR prospect. Chiefs are going to need to find some quality targets and touches on offense and Rice isn't long for the team nor has he been great against man coverage.

2. Carnell Tate WR. Casual scout darling but I've seen him a bit lower with some others. Seen as a George Pickens type except without the baggage. Great hands and works well on the boundary. Eats up space really well. Maybe not as proven as you'd like but if he was then he'd be the #2 pick.

3. Rueben Bain Jr Edge. Pretty much the perfect landing spot for Bain if his short arms cause him to fall. Probably pro ready edge from day 1 with maybe only average upside. He was a force in college so he is kind of a wild card.

4. Jeremiyah Love RB. Pretty much the perfect landing spot for Love, too. This circles back to pick one where the Chiefs are going to need to find quality touches and targets on offense and Love would be the best in the draft. This countered by the 9th overall pick not providing a ton of value in terms of cap space makes this a bit interesting. Ideally, the Chiefs should get Breece Hall, ETN, or Kenneth Walker. Chiefs will likely have to compete with multiple teams who had better seasons and better cap space situations so Love might be the fallback. Love is 3-4 years younger than the FA pool so maybe if you're wanting a long-term star on the team he'd be the guy.

5. Mansoor Delane CB. Probably not on the board if Trent McDuffie stays but if he leaves then this is where I'd put Delane. I think his skillset would matchup well with Nohl Williams and Kristian Fulton. A relatively safe pick.

6. Jermod McCoy CB. Probably just another Nohl Williams with higher upside but thats probably an excellent player. Injury concerns here obviously.

7. Keldric Faulk Edge. Should be higher up based on upside but if the Chiefs are picking him then that means we're a rebuilding team imo. Love the upside and should have immediate impact in the run game. Pass rush talent needs to be massively improved. Fit the Spags system like a glove.


Might expand this into the later rounds once the combine happens.
 

Clayton

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I don't think the Chiefs will draft Caleb Downs. Chiefs fans likely loved the time with Eric Berry but I dont actually see the Chiefs going that route again and likely value S as a rd2 or rd3 need. Might be moot if he goes earlier.

Also don't think Peter Woods is worth the #9 pick. One of the highest rated prospects in college but still extremely raw at pass rush. Feels more like pick 19 than pick 9 but I'm probably in the minority there.

Makai Lemon looks like a #2 WR to me. Possibly a good one but again closer to pick 19 than pick 9 imo. We'll see.

Sadiq probably in the same boat.

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Cap situation -

Chiefs currently have the worst cap situation in the NFL by keeping that SB window open as long as possible. -$55 million if i'm looking at the data right with Mahomes and Chris Jones eating over 40% of the cap. Cutting Jawaan Taylor saves 20 million. Cutting Michael Danna saves 8.2 million. Trading Trent McDuffie would take 13.6 mil off the books. Restructure Mahomes for around 20 mil and that leaves at least some spending cash to at least fill the roster but thats about it.

I'm not sure what trading McDuffie would net. Google seems to think over a 1st round pick. My hunch is that its closer to a 2nd round pick and maybe a young player added onto that.

An issue with this type of rebuild is that receivers generally dont get play time in an Andy Reid system. I think there is an argument that they should trade Trey Smith and keep Trent McDuffie and use the extra money to sign a WR or TE. I don't really see Andy Reid wanting that, though. Bieniemy and whoever the new WR coach will be will have a lot of pressure I'd imagine.
 

Clayton

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After the Trent McDuffie trade, I think I'd move the board to:


1. Rueben Bain Jr Edge.
2. Jeremiyah Love RB
3. Arvell Reese LB
4. Sonny Styles LB
5. Mansoor Delane CB
6. Carnell Tate WR
7. Jermod McCoy CB
 

Clayton

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Chiefs sign RB Kenneth Walker (3 years, $45 million)
Chiefs re-sign TE Travis Kelce (1 year, $12 million)
Chiefs sign S Alohi Gilman (3 years, $24.8 million)
Chiefs sign DT Khyiris Tonga (3 years, $21 million)
Chiefs re-sign WR Tyquan Thornton (2 years, $11 million)



Looking at the team needs, I'd reshuffle them into:

Priority Need: Outside CB, Edge
Priority Developmental: WR, TE, OT
Low Priority Need: Thick RB, SS, Sam LB
 

Clayton

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Chiefs sign RB Emari Demarcado (1 year)
Chiefs sign CB Kader Kohou


Drue Tranquill LB took a paycut. Kohou joins Fulton in the slot so that should be pretty settled after McDuffie's departure. RB looks pretty settled, too, at least in the short-term.
 

Clayton

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Hard to figure out who will be there at pick 9. My guess:

1. Raiders - Mendoza
2. Jets - Reese
3. Cardinals - Bailey
4. Titans - Styles
5. Giants - Delane
6. Browns - Tate
7. Commanders - Love
8. Saints - Bain

Probably worst case scenario with no OL going before 9. Caleb Downs would probably be the pick i think in this scenario.

Delane seems higher ranked by insiders than the consensus from fans. Giants or Browns could take the Miami OL and push someone else down the board.
 
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