The Kansas City Chiefs will pick inside the top ten in this year’s draft—a spot they haven’t occupied since selecting left tackle Eric Fisher in 2013. Since then, they chose quarterback Patrick Mahomes at No. 10, but have never picked within the top ten.

This is somewhat new territory for the Chiefs, as it’s definitely the highest pick they have had in the dynasty, and not because they traded up in the draft. The Chiefs were not a good football team last season, so they were rewarded with the chance to add another blue-chip player. So, maybe there are positives in what happened last season.

Andy Reid talks positives and No. 9 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft

“You try to find some positives in sitting where you’re at and why you’re there,” Reid told reporters earlier this week. “Then the positives are that you get yourself geared down and get better. So, if this has a chance to help you get better, and that’s how (General Manager) Brett (Veach) feels, and that’s the way he’s going about it. Nobody wants to be picking at ninth, but we are, and that’s the reality of it, so you dig in and you put a plan together and go for it the best you can.

“He’s had his guys in here (and) they’ve done a couple of lockdowns already, where he’s had them in for a couple of weeks (and) they live in that room and go through all of these different players. Good things normally come out of those meetings, and I look forward to how the draft goes.”

Coach Reid says that Brett Veach's crew has been "living in that room" at the facility as they prepare for the draft in April.

— Matt McMullen (@KCChiefs_Matt) February 20, 2026

This draft isn’t really the draft you would have liked the Chiefs to choose to be bad for. It’s not the best draft ever, but it’s not terribly bad, either. There are reasons to believe they will get a blue-chip player no matter what at no. 9. However, the Blue-chip players run out in this draft a lot quicker than they usually do.

Analysts predict the Chiefs will target a wide receiver, running back, edge rusher, or possibly a right tackle with their pick. If they select a running back, Jeremiyah Love is an option. Edge rusher candidates include David Bailey, Rueben Bain, or Keldrick Faulk. For receivers, Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, or Jordyn Tyson are possibilities.

The Chiefs should land a game-changing player at No. 9.