The Chiefs Are Officially on the Clock

The Kansas City Chiefs will own their highest selection since 2013.

Feb 25, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Roger Goodell will step to the podium in Pittsburgh on April 23 and mention the Chiefs earlier than any year since 2013.

That’s because with Kansas City’s 14-12 loss in Las Vegas on Sunday, the Chiefs locked up the No. 9-overall selection in the 2026 draft.

Jan 4, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid observes warm ups before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

And Andy Reid’s trust is in general manager Brett Veach.

“I’m optimistic for the future going forward here,” Reid said after Sunday’s loss. “Brett's got the controls from here with the draft, and he and his guys will do a great job there in the draft, and as we work through free agency.”

Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. (4) rushes the line during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Chiefs nearly had No. 11

Veach and his guys for a few moments on Sunday actually held the No. 11 pick. But after Harrison Butker’s field goal gave the Chiefs a 12-11 lead with 1:01 remaining, Aidan O’Connell stepped up.

The Raiders quarterback quickly hit tight end Michael Mayer on a 21-yard seam and after a short pass to Tyler Lockett, Daniel Carlson nailed a career-long 60-yard field goal to win it for Las Vegas.

Jan 4, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders place kicker Daniel Carlson (8 kicks a 60-yard field goal out of the hold of punter AJ Cole (6) with eight seconds left against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The kick dropped Kansas City to 6-11 and secured the No. 9 selection for the Chiefs, their highest selection since taking tackle Eric Fisher No. 1 overall in 2013.

Kansas City finished in a three-way tie with New Orleans and Cincinnati, who each finished 6-11. However, draft-order ties are broken by strength of schedule – the combined winning percentage of a team’s opponents – and the Saints clinched the No. 8 slot earlier Sunday because they played the easier 2025 schedule.

Jan 4, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Shane Buechele (17) is tackled by Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway (97) in the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Chiefs, meanwhile, played an easier schedule than Cincinnati, so Kansas City will select ninth and the Bengals 10th.

Las Vegas, which snapped a 10-game losing streak in beating the Chiefs, owns the No. 1 selection. The Raiders led a quartet of 3-14 teams, and will be followed by the New York Jets, Arizona and Tennessee. The No. 5 selection belongs to the Giants (4-13) followed by Cleveland (5-12) and Washington (5-12) at sixth and seventh.

Oct 27, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn shakes hands with Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid after the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Chiefs will draft higher in second round

While Kansas City will have to wait until No. 9 to draft in the first round, NFL rules will allow the Chiefs to move up to draft No. 8 in the second round. Teams in tied segments such as New Orleans, Kansas City and Cincinnati alternate their order in subsequent rounds.

In other words, Veach will get two of the top 40 choices – ninth overall in the first round and 40th overall, the eighth choice in Round 2. Then, in the third round, the Chiefs would drop to the 10th choice (74th overall).

“We've got a good nucleus of guys, veteran players,” Reid said. “They'll be back. You want that foundation, and that's where you start. And then you give Brett an opportunity to have the draft picks that he has, and picking where he's picking, he's going to do a great job there.

“And then whatever happens, free-agent wise, or guys we sign or we don't, wherever that goes, you still got a long way to go to add people, and do what you need. So, it'll be a fresh start coming up here.”

Sep 14, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (74) and guard Trey Smith (65) and center Creed Humphrey (52) at the line of scrimmage against the Philadelphia Eagles during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Draft capital as of now

Before compensatory awards in March, the Chiefs have only five selections in April: Their own picks in Rounds 1-3, Chicago’s fourth-round selection (in the Joe Thuney trade) and their own pick in the fifth.

Per Over the Cap, the Chiefs are due a compensatory selection at the end of Round 5. Compensatory picks are awarded using a formula that measures net losses in the prior offseason’s unrestricted free agency, and the Saints signing safety Justin Reid will likely lead to that fifth-rounder.

But the Chiefs traded their sixth-rounder to New England as part of the Josh Uche trade. Their seventh-rounder is believed to have gone to Dallas as a condition of the trade for Peyton Hendershot in August 2024.

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