The draft board is widening for the Kansas City Chiefs. And a message from GM Brett Veach made it clear that every option remains on the table at No. 9.

While speaking on the Sleeper Chiefs, Veach talked about the different positions the Chiefs can use their No. 9th overall pick in the NFL 2026 Draft. 

“There's a lot of areas to improve on our roster on both sides of the football,” Veach said. “So I think it does open up that nine picks to go in any one direction, and certainly we'll see how the first five or six picks go.”

As on Chiefs.com, the Kansas City Chiefs possess nine selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. Among them are two first-round picks, with No. 9 and No. 29. 

This first round and overall No. 9th pick happens to be the highest that the Chiefs have received in a decade. This high pick gives them the leverage of drafting a premium developmental prospect.

During his interaction, GM Veach has made it clear that he hasn’t ruled out any possibility for the improvement of their roster. 

“I think whether it's the defensive backfield, offensive line, edge rusher, receiver, again, we need help in all those areas. So I do think that we'll be in a position there to get one of those players and then add throughout the course of the draft.”

For the Chiefs’ 2026 NFL endeavors, the Chiefs GM has emphasized a lot on the importance of patience. He has given the time to recognize their needs and the right evaluation on each player ahead of the draft. 

Meanwhile, mock drafts are popping up, and fans are wondering who could be in consideration for the Chiefs' 9th pick.

Which Athletes Can the Chiefs Consider for Their 9th Pick?

After the losses in the last season, the Chiefs are on the path of reloading their roster for the 2026 NFL season.

Based on last year’s performance, the Chiefs are looking for a pass rusher to complement George Karlaftis, who led the Chiefs' defense with the highest efficiency of 16.8% of pressure rate. 

For this, several mock drafts and analysts, including FanSided's Cody Williams, have projected Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. for the position. 

With the departure of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, the Chiefs may need a new cornerback. According to Pro Football Network, Mansoor Delane could be the answer to that problem. 

Also, as per Charles Goldman from A to Z Sports, William Lee is another CB to consider for the Chiefs.

According to Fox Sports, the Chiefs can pursue Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, and USC’s Makai Lemon to increase the depth on wide receivers. This move will assist Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. 

With this said, the Kansas City Chiefs are building their roster to quickly return to championship contention.

Who do you think the Chiefs would pick as their 9th Pick?

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Written by

Kunwar Yashaswee Chhaunker

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi