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Who could the Chiefs potentially draft with the ninth pick?
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- Who could the Chiefs potentially draft with the ninth pick?
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The 2026 NFL Draft is less than a month away, and it's an extremely important one for the Kansas City Chiefs , who still have plenty of holes to fill on the roster.
The team is coming off a 6-11 season, a finish that gave them the ninth pick in this year's draft, and the Chiefs' earliest selection since they picked first overall in 2013. The Chiefs have nine total selections in the draft.
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With the chance to select in the top 10, a peculiar spot for this team, they have a chance to get an instant game-changer.
Here is a look at some of the prospects who could hear their name called at nine:
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DE Rueben Bain
Bain was dominant during his junior season at Miami and would give the Chiefs a consistent pass rusher opposite George Karlaftis , something that has been void over the past few seasons.
Questions have been raised about Bain's arm length, but his strength and ability to shed off blockers was among the best in the country. He finished his junior season with 9.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one interception and 30 tackles.
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The Chiefs certainly need to bolster their pass rush, and Bain would provide immediate impact.
WR Jordan Tyson
The Chiefs' wide receiver room has left more to be desired, and Tyson could immediately be wide receiver one.
He would provide the Chiefs with a route-running prowess they currently don't have on the roster and the ability to snag contested catches on a consistent basis. At 6'2″, 200 pounds, he also would be the Chiefs' biggest wide receiver and provide a physical presence that would challenge defenses.
There have been concerns about Tyson's durability, as he's dealt with a multitude of injuries throughout his college career, but the talent is certainly there. He finished his 2025 season with 61 receptions for 711 yards and eight touchdowns.
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WR Makai Lemon
Lemon is another wide receiver who could immediately become the Chiefs' number one target.
The USC junior stands at 5 feet 11 inches tall and has exceptional ball skills to go along with a pretty complete skillset.
During his junior season at USC, he was top 15 in the country in receptions, yards and touchdowns. He tallied 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns.
His ball tracking ability and timing could make him Patrick Mahomes ' favorite target.
OT Spencer Fano
Going right tackle at nine would probably be frustrating for Chiefs fans, considering how much the team has invested in the offensive line recently.
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But after releasing Jawaan Taylor , the Chiefs could look to fill the right tackle position long-term, as every other position along the line is presumably set for the near future.
They could also roll with Jaylon Moore , who filled in for Josh Simmons at left tackle last season while he was away from the team.
Nonetheless, Fano seems to be the best option if the Chiefs decide to go the offensive tackle route.
The Utah junior has good footwork and athleticism and would likely give the Chiefs one of the best offensive lines in football.
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DB Mansoor Delane
The Chiefs' secondary is extremely thin following the departures of Trent McDuffie , Jaylen Watson and Bryan Cook .
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Delane is arguably the best defensive back in the draft and would be a pillar for the Chiefs' defense from day one.
The LSU senior is 6 feet tall and 187 pounds and could be the Chiefs' next lockdown corner. In 2025, he had two interceptions and 11 pass deflections.
S Caleb Downs
Downs is arguably the best player in the draft and was one of the best players in college football at Ohio State.
He fills a major need after Cook signed with the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason. He possesses all the tools to be one of the best safeties in the NFL right away.
Downs is very disciplined and has good instincts.
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During his final season at Ohio State, he notched 45 tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and one pass deflection.
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