With the trade of Trent McDuffie and the departure of Jaylen Watson, the Kansas City Chiefs have an alarming cornerback situation. But Daniel Jeremiah's analysis may offer some hope.

According to a mock draft penned by Jeremiah, dubbed as mock draft 3.0 by the NFL.com, the Chiefs are poised to pick Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood at number 29.

The former Southeastern Conference (SEC) standout is a great fit for the Chiefs. Hood perfectly aligns with the heavy man-coverage principles demanded by Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. 

"The Chiefs land one of the most complete cornerbacks in the draft. Hood can cover and play the run, filling a big void in a secondary that is being rebuilt," wrote Jeremiah.

Hood has recorded over 70 career tackles with Tennessee and ranked first in the NFL combine 2026 with a score of 82 and covering 40 yards in 4.44 seconds.

Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver and fellow draft prospect Colbie Young was all praises about Hood. He said, "He is just a technician. Through all four quarters, he stays true to his technique."

In Hood, the Chiefs get a rare quality. Being 6 feet and weighing 195 lbs, Hood has the hand power to disrupt receiver timing and has a great skill at pushing the opponent to the boundaries.

Last season, the Chiefs allowed only 328 points (an average of 19.3 per game), becoming the 6th-best defensive team in the league. However, in 2026, they have already let go of cornerbacks McDuffie and Watson, safety Bryan Cook, defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, and defensive end Malik Herring, among others.

So, if anything, the Chiefs are in dire need to add to their defense roster.

However, the Chiefs would be wrong to rely on NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah's report and assume Hood would be a done deal. There are already other teams that are hovering over the young prospect.

Who Else Can Pick Colton Hood Other Than the Chiefs?

The Seattle Seahawks are keeping a close eye on Colton Hood at pick number 32.

The Seahawks head coach, Mike Macdonald, prefers a highly complex defensive scheme. In turn, his system requires tall, physical athletes to survive on the boundary. Which makes Hood fit that exact structure he has created for his team.

At the same time, the defensive back Riq Woolen's move to the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency means Seattle lacks reliable outside depth. As a result, the team is counting on players like Josh Jobe (3-year, $24M contract) and Noah Igbinoghene (1-year, $1.8M contract).

As per Sports Journalist Jason Abbey from DAZN, “Hood seems a better value pick with Tariq Woolen no longer in Seattle.”

Ultimately, only time will tell where Hood will land, either with the Kansas City Chiefs or Seattle Seahawks.

What is your favourite spot for Hood? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Shreya Mishra

Edited by

Sayantan Gayen