Who Chiefs Land in 2026 NFL Mock Draft, Post-Super Bowl Edition

The 2026 NFL season has come to a close following Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California. The Kansas City Chiefs, for the first time in four years, were not playing on the big stage, and the first time in over 10 years that they would not be playing in the postseason following their 6-11 campaign.

The Chiefs will bestow the No. 9 overall draft selection in the NFL Draft this spring, in a position to add a potential future cornerstone piece to the roster quickly. That could spell trouble for the rest of the NFL, which teams will have to counter with their own first-round draft selections, and with that in mind, I took a shot at a full first-round mock draft, including picks for non-first-round teams. Let's dive in.

1. Las Vegas Raiders — Fernando Mendoza, quarterback, Indiana

It is Mendoza or bust for the Raiders. The best quarterback in the draft by a hot country mile, the Heisman Trophy and National Championship-winning signal-caller is seamlessly one of the better prospects at the position in the last couple of draft cycles. He would be joining young cornerstones Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers on offense with the future head coach, Klint Kubiak, at the reins.

2. New York Jets — Arvell Reese, linebacker/edge rusher, Ohio State

Reese was deployed in a multitude of ways for the Buckeyes defense, and is a rare athlete with great size at the linebacker position. However, he looks to be a true modern version of what is asked from second-level defenders in the NFL, giving the Jets a potential cornerstone at WILL linebacker or edge rusher.

3. Arizona Cardinals — Rueben Bain Jr., edge rusher, Miami (FL)

Drafting a tackle here would've been a possibility, but the Cardinals are in a better position to choose the best player available, which could very well be Rueben Bain Jr. The Hurricanes' standout pass rusher would bring long-term stability at the position while providing versatility and more explosive potential at edge rusher alongside Josh Sweat.

4. Tennessee Titans — Makai Lemon, wide receiver, USC

For my money, Lemon is the best pass-catcher in this year's draft with a play-style eerily similar to that of Seahawks wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Cam Ward could certainly use his own version of "JSN," as Lemon tends to catch anything within his vicinity and will win with incredible nuance and football intelligence at the position. The Titans and head coach Robert Saleh get their future No. 1 wide receiver to build the offense around.

5. New York Giants — Francis Mauigoa, offensive tackle, Miami (FL)

Andrew Thomas continues to anchor the left side when healthy, but to take the next step in protecting Jaxon Dart or another signal-caller in the pocket, they must tend to the right side of the offensive line. Mauigoa is considered by some to be a guard, but his play at right tackle is high-end stuff with stonewall ability in pass protection and brutal physicality in the run game.

6. Cleveland Browns — Carnell Tate, wide receiver, Ohio State

Tate's progression from 2024 to 2025 as a route runner is incredibly noteworthy, and it shows up on tape to the point where he was almost unstoppable at times on all three levels of the field alongside superhuman wideout Jeremiah Smith. Tate would quickly become the top receiver in the Browns locker room, giving whoever the QB1 is a fun weapon to work with.

7. Washington Commanders — Sonny Styles, linebacker, Ohio State

The Commanders are getting old at linebacker, and there is a serious need to inject youth at the position. What better way to succeed Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu than selecting arguably the best pure linebacker in the draft? Styles has a missed tackle rate of zero percent before the quarterfinals game against Miami, brings a former safety background to the field, and is a genius at the position.

8. New Orleans Saints — Jordyn Tyson, wide receiver, Arizona State

Whether the Saints decide to trade Chris Olave or not, it seems clear that they may have their future franchise quarterback in Tyler Shough, and he will need the best weapons he can get. Tyson, when healthy, might be the best overall offensive playmaker in the draft, with exceptional yards-after-catch ability, ball skills, and explosiveness.

9. Kansas City Chiefs — David Bailey, edge rusher, Texas Tech

Bailey Chiefs — Oct 18, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey (31) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Chiefs desperately need help along the defensive line, especially at edge rusher opposite of George Karlaftis. With a top-10 selection, general manager Brett Veach is in a unique position to take the best players available, and one of those could be Bailey, who would bring ample pass rush ability with a growing frame and more room for evolution as a run defender.

If there is a defensive coordinator who could get the best out of his players against the run, it's Steve Spagnuolo. This would be a great landing spot for Bailey to learn and grow as a run defender while bringing three-down ability as a pure pass rusher who could get eight to 10 sacks in his rookie season.

10. Cincinnati Bengals — Caleb Downs, safety, Ohio State

The Bengals need to draft the best defensive player available on the board. This defense was awful last year and lost too many games due to it, especially when Joe Burrow was healthy. Downs would be a game-changing safety who could transform this unit for the better, but be prepared for him to be in a contract dispute by the end of his rookie contract.

11. Miami Dolphins — Jermod McCoy, cornerback, Tennessee

Offensive line would be a great choice here, but McCoy is a better overall player than any offensive lineman on the board. Despite missing last season with a torn ACL, McCoy's tape as a true sophomore was excellent, showcasing great man coverage abilities, ball skills, and technique in zone spacing. Head coach Jeff Hafley would welcome this addition to his secondary.

12. Dallas Cowboys — Jeremiyah Love, running back, Notre Dame

It's been 10 years since the Cowboys drafted Ezekiel Elliott with the No. 4 selection in the 2016 NFL Draft. The team requires a workhorse running back and someone who could execute multiple phases of the offense under Brian Schottenheimer, and Love is one of the best running backs to come through the draft cycle in the past few years to execute those duties. He would bring excellent vision, high-end explosiveness, pass-catching ability, and a quality pass protector skill set.

13. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta) — Mansoor Delane, cornerback, LSU

One of the missing pieces of the Rams roster is an adequate group of cornerbacks with size or superb technique in most phases of the position. Delane argues to be the top perimeter defender in the draft, boasting pure press technique, closing burst, and excellent zone instincts to make high-end plays on the ball.

14. Baltimore Ravens — Spencer Fano, offensive tackle, Utah

Roger Rosengarten has not been the quality right tackle that the Ravens have been hoping for the last couple of seasons, and competition at this spot is needed for stability at Lamar Jackson's front side. Fano argues to be the top lineman in his class as well, showcasing ample anchoring ability, tight hands, a wide base, and physicality in the trenches as both a pass protector and run blocker.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Cashius Howell, edge rusher, Texas A&M

The Buccaneers need serious pass rush ability, and they'll look to be aggressive to attack outside linebackers this offseason. One edge rusher that comes to mind is Howell, arguably the best pure rusher in this class with outstanding explosiveness, bend, a cavalcade of moves and counters, and the ability to spring some instances of speed-to-power on tape. The only downside is his size, which may give Jason Litcht some pause before reluctantly pulling the trigger.

16. New York Jets (via Indianapolis) — Peter Woods, defensive lineman, Clemson

Woods might be rough around the edges in some instances, but he is, for my money, the best interior defensive lineman in the draft. Pairing a player like Woods with Reese would form a great ceiling of young talent on the Jets' defense to replace a key cornerstone, Quinnen Williams. Woods has freakish functional athleticism and get-off for his size that make him a true disruptor in the backfield and as a pass rusher.

17. Detroit Lions — Caleb Lomu, offensive tackle, Utah

Taylor Decker's future in Detroit is in doubt, which means Jared Goff's blindside needs assistance. Lomu is currently my No. 2-rated tackle prospect in the draft, offering ample functional athleticism, pass set technique, foot speed, range, and high-ceiling as a run blocker who experienced growth in this area as a redshirt sophomore with the Utes.

18. Minnesota Vikings — Avieon Terrell, cornerback, Clemson

The Vikings need more infusion of youth and talent at cornerback. Terrell is a great choice for this spot, showcasing inside-out versatility to be a standout nickel or perimeter piece of the secondary with quality closing speed, run support ability, ball skills, and is superb at the famous "Peanut Punch." The younger brother of Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell hopes to follow in his footsteps as a top defender for Minnesota's secondary.

19. Carolina Panthers — Caleb Banks, defensive lineman, Florida

The Panthers made significant strides against the run, improving from a historically poor unit to a league-average group under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

Their offseason signings of Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III have not lived up to the expectations of their contracts, and veteran A'Shawn Robinson could become a cap casualty, saving $10.5 million. Banks would be a strong addition to the group alongside Derrick Brown, offering excellent penetration ability along with outstanding explosiveness, size, and quickness for a player with his power profile.

20. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay) — Keldric Faulk, edge rusher, Auburn

Faulk is a unique player with his great versatility to play inside and out, but doesn't have a super explosive athletic profile you would expect from a player of this caliber. Some have argued that Faulk may fit better as an interior defender than on the edge, but whichever spot he plays in the trenches, the Cowboys would be acquiring a stout run defender and a quality pass rusher for their defense.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers — KC Concepcion, wide receiver, Texas A&M

Concepcion Steeler — Nov 28, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver KC Concepcion (7) returns a punt during the first half against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

A wide receiver would be a great addition to this offense with Mike McCarthy at head coach. I think the need for explosive, dynamic playmakers with great route-running ability and return game skills would be much-needed in this room, not another big, tall, and physical wide receiver. Concepcion fits the bill perfectly here for a potentially-returning Aaron Rodgers.

22. Los Angeles Chargers — Kayden McDonald, defensive lineman, Ohio State

Chargers top run-defender Teair Tart is a pending free agent this offseason, and there is a legitimate chance he hits the open market. McDonald may have smaller arms for his size, but he is arguably the top run-defending defensive lineman in the draft, with excellent power, quickness, and a compact frame from head to toe to bully blockers and reset the line of scrimmage.

23. Philadelphia Eagles — Olaivavega Ioane, guard, Penn State

With Landon Dickerson's future in question with another significant lower-body injury, it makes sense for the Eagles to draft their long-term option at the position, even if he doesn't start immediately. Ioane would be a great choice here as the top pure guard in the draft, providing exciting power capacity, adequate quickness, and blocking ability, and the leg drive to create lanes in the run game.

24. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville) — Kadyn Proctor, guard, Alabama

I don't understand the top tackle talk for Proctor. Too often does he allow softened edges and doesn't have the quickness in his pass sets to be a consistent reliability at tackle. The Browns need help across the board, along with the offensive line, and Proctor makes for a terrific guard at the next level with his sheer size and pop up front.

25. Chicago Bears — Lee Hunter, defensive lineman, Texas Tech

A bit of a stunner here, but Hunter's stock is as high as it has been for much of the early part of the draft process. The Bears need quality run defenders in the trenches, and Hunter feels like an excellent backup plan if McDonald is taken well beforehand, with a massive frame, brute strength at the point of attack, and impressive quickness after the fact against the run.

26. Buffalo Bills — T.J. Parker, edge rusher, Clemson

Parker got a nice boost from last week's Senior Bowl with a strong performance in practice to showcase his three-down ability as both a pass rusher and run defender. The Bills desperately need pass rush help, and Parker provides the production profile, size, rush moves, and edge-setting skills to be a quality defender for Joe Brady's defense.

27. San Francisco 49ers — Akheem Mesidor, edge rusher, Miami (FL)

Mesidor will be 25 during his rookie season, but he offers a great combination of pass-rush ability and the toolkit to be a great run defender early in his career. Mesidor, paired with a healthy Mykel Williams and Nick Bosa, along with the youth in the interior of the 49ers' defensive front, would give Raheem Morris an impressive group in his first season in Santa Clara.

28. Houston Texans — Christen Miller, defensive lineman, Georgia

The Texans had a Super Bowl-caliber defense this season, but their offense failed to compensate and will need to be addressed this offseason. However, sometimes it comes down to drafting the best player available, and the Texans do have a need in their interior defensive trenches. Miller offers the toolkit to be a stout player in Demeco Ryans' defense as a rookie.

29. Los Angeles Rams — Monroe Freeling, offensive tackle, Georgia

Rob Havenstein is close to retirement, whether it happens this year or next. Warren McClendon has shown flashes of being that guy to succeed him, but drafting depth and long-term stability at either tackle spot would be grand for the Rams here. That or the Rams trade back, but Freeling has a raw skill set that will need serious tuning, yet the ceiling for his ability at the next level is impressive to not select.

30. Denver Broncos — Kenyon Sadiq, tight end, Oregon

Long-term stability is needed at tight end for the Broncos, especially as Evan Engram gets older. Sadiq is the best tight end in the draft with immense blocking capabilities and a stern pass-catching skill set that could make him a reliable seam target for Bo Nix.

31. New England Patriots — R Mason Thomas, edge rusher, Oklahoma

With K'Lavon Chassion a pending free agent, the Patriots could be forced to select a pass rusher at some point in this draft. Thomas offers a similar skill set to Chassion, who provides ample explosiveness off the line of scrimmage, speed-to-power, bend, and impressive pass rush ability overall.

32. Seattle Seahawks — Emmanuel Pregnon, guard, Oregon

The Super Bowl champions need to continue shoring up their offensive line, as Sam Darnold seems to have found his home for the long-term as a quality starting quarterback. Anthony Bradford is too volatile for my liking at right guard, and while this potential replacement played left guard at Oregon, Pregnon offers the functional athleticism and movement skills to play on the right side, forging a stout front-five.

Non First-Round Selections

Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) signals a first down after his run against the Miami Hurricanes during their Vrbo Fiesta Bowl matchup at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 8, 2026. | Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

47. Indianapolis Colts — Trinidad Chambliss, quarterback, Ole Miss: While Chambliss could be returning to Ole Miss pending his current lawsuit, let's assume he is entering the NFL Draft, giving the Colts a potential long-term developmental option at their most important position.

48. Atlanta Falcons — Eli Stowers, tight end, Vanderbilt: Stowers provides the athleticism and run-after-catch ability that would be missing if Kyle Pitts does not return to Atlanta. The standout tight end from Nashville is rough around the edges in some cases, but this is a playmaker to like if you are a Falcons fan.

Nov 22, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) runs with the ball after a made catch against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images | Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

52. Green Bay Packers — D'Angelo Ponds, cornerback, Indiana: The lean frame is going to scare teams, but you can't question Ponds' competitiveness and "dawg" mentality. Ponds plays much bigger than his size, bringing physicality, ball skills, and zone instincts to the table.

56. Jacksonville Jaguars — A.J. Haulcy, safety, LSU: Eric Murray is getting older, and Antonio Johnson enters the final year of his rookie contract. The Jaguars will be looking for a physical defender in the run game and someone who can provide range on the backend, something Haulcy does well.

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