Chiefs Could Draft Top Prospect Despite Being Set at His Position

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The Kansas City Chiefs sent out a press release on the Mike Borgonzi front office departure.

When the Kansas City Chiefs hit the clock at No. 9 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, they could go a variety of different directions.

The Chiefs have major needs at positions such as edge rusher, wide receiver, and defensive back. They could also look to trade out of the ninth pick, whether they move up or down.

Regardless of what they end up doing, general manager Brett Veach usually strives to take the best player available. He has already signed several free agents to enable him to do just that.

Kansas City Chiefs Predicted to Draft RB Jeremiyah Love Despite Signing Kenneth Walker III During Free Agency

GettyNotre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love

The Chiefs have been linked to Love for several months now. He is considered the best running back in this year’s draft class by a wide margin, and his skillset would fit perfectly within coach Andy Reid’s offensive system. However, the brakes have been pumped on Love ending up in Kansas City ever since it signed Walker to a three-year contract during free agency.

Walker was thought by many to be the best free agent running back available, and the Chiefs wasted no time scooping him up. Just days later, they also signed Emari Demercado to back Walker up. Second-year man Brashard Smith is also in the mix after flashing some potential as a rookie in 2025.

Despite all of that, there is still some smoke around the Chiefs drafting Love. Here’s what NFL draft expert Todd McShay had to say about the possibility just last week:

“There’s still some thought from people that know or who are dialed in, that if Jeremiyah Love is sitting there at nine, that could be the pick for the Chiefs.”

Another respected draft analyst, Daniel Jeremiah, stated on the Pat McAfee Show that Kansas City would have a tough time passing on Love if he’s still available at No. 9:

“If he starts to get towards seven, I would think you might even get some phone calls from some teams,” Jeremiah said of the possibility of Love’s potential marginal slip. “I know Kansas City already signed [Kenneth] Walker, but this guy paired with Kenneth Walker in Kansas City would be pretty insane.”

On Friday Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report said that Love falling to the Chiefs would be a “dream scenario.”

“The Jeremiyah Love hype is a smoke screen and the Notre Dame back falls to the Chiefs at No. 9. He turns out to be the weapon Andy Reid needs to get this offense back into elite territory.”

Chiefs Will Be Between a Rock and a Hard Place if Jeremiyah Love Falls to No. 9

GettyChiefs GM Brett Veach

Veach’s strategy of taking the best player available regardless of position is generally the correct mindset to have in the draft. You don’t want to miss out on acquiring a great player to force filling a roster need.

The Chiefs have a great example of that in their team history when they selected running back Larry Johnson in the first round of the 2004 draft despite already having Pro Bowler Priest Holmes. Kansas City ended up needing Johnson when Holmes got hurt, and Johnson went on to become one of the best backs in the league for a couple of seasons.

On the flip side, the Chiefs have invested heavily in Walker, and he is a proven commodity. With the amount of holes they have throughout their roster, it might be wise to make an exception this year and go more off need. There will likely be a quality player available who plays a position where Kansas City lacks.

Nick Roesch Nick Roesch covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, with a focus on the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Los Angeles Chargers. He previously covered the Chiefs for USA TODAY Sports’ Chiefs Wire, and all 32 NFL teams for A to Z Sports. Roesch’s career in sports media spans 10 years. More about Nick Roesch