A general manager can’t fully predict how the NFL Draft will unfold or how the board will fall. That clarity really only comes when you’re holding the first overall pick. The Kansas City Chiefs don’t have that luxury this year.

What they do have, though, is a pair of first-round selections at No. 9 and No. 29. On top of that, this marks the first time since drafting Patrick Mahomes at No. 10 in 2017 that Kansas City is picking this high. This brings the focus to how Brett Veach approaches the first round and targets top prospects.

The Chiefs have clear needs at defensive end, offensive tackle, and wide receiver, among other spots. With that in mind, here are five scenarios they could consider in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Scenario 1: Trade up to address the need at the edge What the Chiefs will trade: Pick No. 9 and No. 40 to the Tennessee Titans What they will get: No. 4 pick to draft Ohio State edge rusher, Arvell Reese The Chiefs’ defense recorded 35 sacks in the 2025 season, ranked 30th in run stop win rate, and sat in the middle tier in pass rush metrics.

That alone puts edge rusher at the top of their priority list. And in that context, it’s hard to overlook what Brett Veach said at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. “It’s funny, every year when you’re picking 31, 32, I always say, ‘Man, if we were just at 24 or 25, we’d be exactly where we want to be,” Veach said.

“Now we’re at 9, and I’m like, ‘If we were just at 4 or 5, we’d be exactly where we want to be.” That comment hints at the possibility of a trade-up scenario, especially for a premium edge rusher. One name that stands out is Arvell Reese, out of the Ohio State Buckeyes. In a projected scenario where the Las Vegas Raiders take Fernando Mendoza, followed by the New York Jets selecting Texas Tech’s David Bailey and the Arizona Cardinals opting for Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa, Kansas City could look to move up.

September 27, 2025: Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese 8 ready for a play during the NCAA, College League, USA football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Washington Huskies in Seattle, WA. Ohio State defeated Washington 24-6. / CSM Seattle United States – ZUMAc04_ 20250927_zma_c04_781 Copyright: xStevexFaberx A potential partner here is the Titans, who hold the No. 4 pick. Veach’s connection with Titans GM Mike Borgonzi adds another layer to that possibility.

At the same time, Tennessee has multiple roster needs, which could make them open to moving down. If Reese is still available at No. 4, the framework could involve the Chiefs sending the No. 9 pick along with a Day 2 selection, likely No. 40, to move up. If he’s off the board earlier, though, the expectation shifts back to Kansas City staying put at No. 9 and reassessing from there.

Scenario 2: Find Travis Kelce’s successor and add an edge rusher at No. 29 Pick No. 9: Draft Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq Pick No. 29: Draft UCF edge, Malachi Lawrence On paper, the Chiefs have Travis Kelce locked in on a three-year deal, leaving the door open for multiple seasons. Still, based on how things are trending, the 2026 season is widely expected to be his last. Even if it isn’t, the need to eventually plan for life after Kelce is unavoidable.

That’s where drafting a tight end starts to make sense. One name that fits that conversation is Kenyon Sadiq out of the Oregon Ducks. At 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds, and after posting a 4.39 at the scouting combine, Sadiq brings a level of athleticism that aligns with how Kansas City has historically used the position.

And if he does land there, the opportunity to learn directly from Kelce only adds to the appeal. November 29, 2025: Oregon Ducks Tight End Kenyon Sadiq 18 during warm ups before the NCAA, College League, USA Football game between the Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies in Seattle WA. / CSM Seattle United States – ZUMAc04_ 20251129_zma_c04_043 Copyright: xStevexFaberx That approach could push the Chiefs toward addressing other needs later in the first round. By that point, prospects like Arvell Reese, David Bailey, and Rueben Bain Jr. are likely already off the board.

In that kind of setup, another option could be Malachi Lawrence from the UCF Knights. Lawrence is coming off his most productive season, finishing with 28 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three pass deflections, and two forced fumbles, which earned him first-team All-Big 12 honors. He also stood out at the combine with his length, frame, and overall athletic testing, placing near the top among edge defenders in multiple drills, including the 40-yard dash, 10-yard split, vertical, and broad jump.

With that combination of length and explosiveness, he projects as a natural fit in Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive system, particularly as a pass-rushing option. Scenario 3: Brett Veach could consider both an edge rusher and an OT in the 1st round Pick No. 9: Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr. Pick No. 29: Multiple prospects at OT with an option to trad