The Kansas City Chiefs' fall from grace in 2025 was something to watch. After making three Super Bowl appearances in a row, the team was going for a four-peat as AFC champions. Well, what ended up happening was a years-long process of poor roster building coming to a boil. The Chiefs just could not get out of their own way in 2025 and saw the already slim margins disappear.
And I do believe people were overthinking why the Chiefs collapsed this year - the players just weren't good enough, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes was really covering up a lot. He ended up tearing his ACL late in the season, so his status for Week 1 of the 2026 campaign is not yet known. Overall, the Chiefs front office, led by General Manager Brett Veach, has a ton of work to do to restock this roster with necessary talent.
They also have to get out of a tough cap situation as well. The 2026 NFL Draft is approaching, and the Chiefs could make some key roster additions here. Let's crack open a mock draft and see how things could shake out for KC.
Kansas City Chiefs fill notable roster holes in updated NFL Mock Draft
9. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
I know taking a defensive tackle inside the top-10 for the Chiefs might not be a popular move among the fanbase, but it's a huge need. Not only do the Chiefs have notable free agents along the defensive line, but the unit just lacked juice in 2025.
Adding a young, blue-chip prospect along the defensive line is going to help out the entire defense. Peter Woods is a lock to go inside the top-15 and is a very wise selection for GM Brett Veach, even if fans might want an offensive weapon with this pick.
40. Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
Germie Bernard profiles as a rock-solid no. 2 wide receiver in the NFL. He's not necessarily the biggest or fastest, but he does a lot of the little things well. The Chiefs may have to wait another year to find a legitimate WR1, but Bernard is absolutely an NFL-caliber player at the position.
74. Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama
Two-straight picks from Alabama, as the Chiefs snag Deontae Lawson. Leo Chenal is a free agent in 2026, and the Chiefs could simply look to reset things by taking Lawson, who has performed well against NFL-caliber competition at Alabama.
109. Joe Royer, TE, Cincinnati
Joe Royer can do a little bit of everything at the tight end position, but, like 99 percent of collegiate tight ends coming into the NFL, Royer needs some development. It's not a guaratee that Travis Kelce returns in 2026, and even if he does, the Chiefs have to lay the groundwork to replace him for the long-term.
146. Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana
The Chiefs will likely have already addressed the running back position in free agency before the 2026 NFL Draft, as both Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are free agents, and frankly, neither should be brought back. Kansas City does not have a legitimate RB1, and that's been hurting the entire performance of the offense. The team can clear enough cap space to sign Breece Hall, for example, but a more modest addition of J.K. Dobbins or Rico Dowdle might be more reasonable, and then following that up with a draft pick like Kaelon Black could make a ton of sense.
176. Eric McAlister, WR, TCU
The Chiefs finish up this mock draft with some size in the wide receiver room, snagging Eric McAlister from TCU. McAlister had 1,190 yards in 2025, so he is coming off a very productive season and could be a nice rotational option in the room for Patrick Mahomes.