Kansas City Chiefs NFL Draft 2026 pick tracker: Grades, fits and scouting reports

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The Chiefs needed to bolster the secondary after losing starters Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Bryan Cook in free agency this offseason. Delane was Dane Brugler’s No. 6 overall prospect and No. 1 cornerback in this draft as detailed in “The Beast” draft guide. With the 29th pick, the Chiefs addressed another glaring need by selecting Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods. Woods has a high ceiling and was one of the top prospects in the draft back at the beginning of the fall. The Chiefs used their only pick on Day 2, No. 40, to select Oklahoma edge rusher R Mason Thomas, Brugler’s 10th-ranked edge rusher. On Saturday, K.C. continued its focus on defense, taking Oregon safety Jadon Canady with the 109th pick. He played the Star or nickel position for the Ducks, which is where he projects in the NFL. The Chiefs picked their first offensive player in the fifth round Saturday, trading up with the Steelers to select Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson at No. 161. They followed that at No. 176 with Cincinnati wide receiver Cyrus Allen. Kansas City capped its draft by taking LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier with the 249th pick. Nussmeier was Brugler’s third-ranked quarterback. He fell to the seventh round in large part because of a disappointing final college season, brought on by a perfect storm of contributing factors, including an inconsistent offensive line and a run game that ranked 124th in the FBS. The Chiefs do not plan to be drafting this high again anytime soon. As a result, they trade up to No. 6 and replace McDuffie with the best – and safest – cornerback on the board in Delane. The most comfortable man coverage player in the draft, Delane is very difficult to stack and fool in coverage and should be a factor defensively quickly in Kansas City. This is a great pick. Delane is a high-floor player who oozes confidence and will have no problems entering a serious, championship-level operation in Kansas City. Love the aggressiveness here. — Nick Baumgardner Delane plays with the route anticipation and temperament to stay attached in coverage and squeeze catch windows. He projects as a starting outside NFL cornerback, with the skill set to move inside over the slot. An alpha competitor who projects as a starter despite his average size. Kansas City Chiefs trade up, pick LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at No. 6 in 2026 NFL Draft Kansas City needed to overhaul its defense, and adding Woods is a smart, safe move. Chris Jones won’t be around forever, so getting a physical, powerful interior player to work alongside him is critical. The Chiefs have now fortified the middle of their defensive line and have a quality rotation. Woods (6-2 ½, 298) was a mainstay on the Tigers’ defensive line and earned first-team All-ACC honors. He scored two touchdowns as a short-yardage running back and finished with 30 tackles, including 3.5 for loss, and two sacks. — Scott Dochterman Woods flashes the ability to win with quickness, strength and hand usage — and the next step in his development is for him to do so more consistently. He offers scheme diversity, although he projects best as a three-/four-technique DT. An explosive tackle who must improve his consistency at the next level. Clemson’s Peter Woods selected by Kansas City Chiefs with pick No. 29 in the 2026 NFL Draft This is a bit of a reach, especially with guys like Zion Young and Cashius Howell on the board. Thomas is a twitched-up 241-pound pass rusher who plays hard and gets everything out of his frame – but isn’t going to give you much on first down and has real length concerns along with general size issues. He’s talented, but just like Peter Woods at 29: I thought there could’ve been more value here. — Nick Baumgardner Thomas is an undersized edge defender who combines first-step quickness with violent play strength and closing burst and never quits working to the football. His ability to vary his rush tempo leads to disruption and will help him find a meaningful role in the NFL. Undersized, but plays fast; should be able to find a meaningful NFL role. Chiefs select Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas with pick No. 40 in the 2026 NFL Draft The selection of Canady is about adding competition to the nickel spot while also adding special teams value at gunner. Chiefs scout Greg Castillo said the team values Canady’s competitiveness. At the same time, they think he’ll do well with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s playbook, having played for multiple schools and taken on multiple roles for Oregon in his final college season. Canady is undersized and underpowered, which shows in both phases, but his urgent athleticism and decisive reactions help ease those question marks. He can provide immediate depth at nickel for an NFL team. The Chiefs struck out on most of their running back targets in the 2025 draft when a huge run of them went off the board before their pick in last year’s fourth round. K.C. was determined not to let that happen again, as it traded up with the Steelers to secure Johnson. His cutting ability and pass-catching skills should add some juice to a position that needs it. Johnson is quick and balanced between the tackles to stack cuts, and his pass-catching savvy will be an asset at the next level, ideally for a zone scheme. He is an intriguing change-of-pace back who will bring versatility to an NFL backfield. A sure-handed ball carrier who will bring value to an NFL backfield as a pass catcher. The Chiefs finally added a weapon to their receiving unit that needs both short- and long-term help. Allen profiles as a slot receiver and also could contribute for the Chiefs on special teams as a kick returner, where the team was so-so last season. Chiefs scout Cassidy Kaminski said he loved Allen’s genuine personality and contagious energy, which he compared to another previous player he interviewed: former Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco. A dynamic athlete, Allen moves with twitch as a route runner, although some of his steps and movements can get choppy. He gave his draft profile a boost at the Senior Bowl, and he shows the quickness and ball skills that will stand out during training camp. Well, that’s a surprise. Nussmeier is the first QB drafted by the Chiefs since … Patrick Mahomes in 2017. Nussmeier pencils in as QB3 behind Mahomes and Justin Fields, though his potential to start long term is understandably blocked. Getting to work with Mahomes and coach Andy Reid, however, could be beneficial for Nussmeier’s career if he takes advantage of this opportunity to develop. Nussmeier is an aggressive competitor who can throw you into or out of games, but his arm talent and command are foundational traits that generally translate well to the NFL. He projects as a high-level backup and spot starter. An aggressive competitor whose throws can win games — and lose them, too. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms