KANSAS CITY — The 2026 NFL draft has begun in Pittsburgh. The three-day event continues with Rounds 2-3 on Friday (7 p.m. ET) and Rounds 4-7 on Saturday (noon ET).
The Kansas City Chiefs selected LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane with the No. 6 overall pick. Then, they selected Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods at No. 29.
A full list of Kansas City’s selections is below and will be updated with pick-by-pick analysis through the weekend.
Round 1, No. 6 overall: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
My take: The Chiefs are confident Delane can be a star defender, the player expected to replace All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie who was traded just seven weeks ago to the Los Angeles Rams. He’ll have to perform quickly to meet such expectations, especially since the Chiefs moved from the ninth pick to No. 6. If anyone can develop a young defensive back, it’s longtime coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who has helped plenty of players — McDuffie, cornerbacks Jaylen Watson, L’Jarius Sneed and safeties Bryan Cook and Juan Thornhill — improve during their rookie contracts.
Key stat for this player: Last season, Delane surrendered a completion percentage of just 27.8%, which was the third best in FBS. This is one reason the Chiefs believe he can be an excellent coverage cornerback, whether in man-to-man or zone responsibilities. When the ball did arrive in his area last season, Delane contested 67% of his targets — meaning he was within arms’ reach of the ball — to be tied for the second highest in SEC. As a rookie, Delane will be asked by Spagnuolo to disrupt some of the league’s top receivers.
What we’re hearing about Delane: Similar to star cornerbacks in the past, Delane has plenty of confidence. He appreciated the Chiefs being willing to move up to acquire him. Delane, 22, is an older prospect than the Chiefs usually take in the first round, but he is a mature prospect who should be ready to be a starter on opening night of the 2026 season. “They wanted to keep it quiet,” Delane said of the Chiefs on the draft stage. “They made the best move in the draft.”
What’s next: Despite their trade with the Cleveland Browns, the Chiefs still retained their second first-round pick, No. 29. The biggest priority for the Chiefs should be adding to their defensive line, whether on the edge or in the interior. The team doesn’t have a clear starter on the opposite edge of George Karlaftis, so a pass rusher could be what coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach look to address with the Chiefs’ next selection.
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What Mansoor Delane brings to the Chiefs
What Mansoor Delane brings to the Chiefs
Round 1, No. 29 overall: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
My take: The Chiefs were wise to make this move, especially when they didn’t have a reliable option in the rotation for the interior of their defensive line. Many analysts believe Woods can improve throughout his rookie contract — and the Chiefs appear to agree. With star lineman Chris Jones at age 32, Woods should find a willing mentor in the Chiefs’ best defensive player. Woods should see plenty of playing time early on during his rookie season, which is one reason we choose him for this spot in our NFL Nation mock draft.
Will he start as a rookie? The short answer is no. The Chiefs don’t need Woods to be an immediate starter, especially with Jones and Khyiris Tonga atop the depth chart. A successful rookie season for Woods will be if he can improve throughout the season and become a reliable contributor within the rotation, which should allow Jones to not have to be on the field all the time. The Chiefs are hopeful that Woods will help the defense be more effective rushing the quarterback on third down. Woods should have the athleticism to win one-on-one matchups alongside Jones, who often sees a double team on third-and-long snaps.
Key stat: Just like in 2022, when the Chiefs had two first-round picks, Thursday night was just the second in the franchise’s history that the team selected multiple defenders in the opening round, according to ESPN Research. In both cases, the Chiefs drafted a cornerback and then followed by selecting a defensive linemen. In 2022, those players were Trent McDuffie and George Karlaftis; the duo helped the Chiefs win two consecutive Super Bowls. This year, Veach followed a similar path with Delane and Woods, as both prospects should play significant snaps as rookies.
What’s next: The Chiefs felt Woods’ athletic ability was something they couldn’t afford pas up with the No. 29 pick. With the 40th pick, the Chiefs could look to continue to add to the defensive line, especially at edge rusher, or at receiver to give quarterback Patrick Mahomes another passing option. After the first round, the Chiefs still don’t have a clear starter on the opposite side of Karlafits. But if a pass catcher is the best player on their board, the Chiefs can’t be afraid to add him to their roster.
Remaining picks:
Round 2: No. 40
Round 4: No. 109
Round 5: No. 169
Round 5: No. 176
Round 6: No. 210
