Chiefs Likely to Target Wide Receiver in Potential First-Round Trade Up

Kansas City has extra draft capital to move up from No. 29, but must weigh risks of overpaying for a top WR prospect.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 9:35am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented football players and draft prospects, using bold red and gold colors to represent the Kansas City Chiefs.The Chiefs' draft strategy will require a delicate balance as they weigh the risks and rewards of trading up for a top wide receiver prospect.Kansas City Today

The Kansas City Chiefs enter the 2026 NFL Draft with two first-round picks, including the 29th overall selection, after trading away star cornerback Trent McDuffie. While trading up in the first round is a possibility, the Chiefs must carefully consider which position to target, with wide receiver being a top need but also a polarizing group in this year's class.

Why it matters

The Chiefs are looking to reload their roster after a disappointing end to the 2025 season. Adding a dynamic playmaker at wide receiver could help offset the potential retirement of veteran tight end Travis Kelce, but the team must weigh the cost and risk of trading up for a top WR prospect.

The details

Analysts believe the Chiefs could target a tight end or wide receiver if they decide to trade up from the 29th pick. While Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq is the consensus TE1, his production profile is underwhelming. The wide receiver group is more enticing, with players like Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, and Makai Lemon projected as first-round talents. However, each has question marks, whether it's Tate's unknown ceiling, Tyson's injury history, or Lemon's pre-draft interview concerns.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 24-26.

The players

Trent McDuffie

A 25-year-old All-Pro cornerback who the Chiefs traded to the Los Angeles Rams.

Brett Veach

The general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kenyon Sadiq

The top-ranked tight end in the 2026 NFL Draft class from the University of Oregon.

Eli Stowers

The TE2 in the 2026 NFL Draft class from Vanderbilt University.

Carnell Tate

A wide receiver prospect projected as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Jordyn Tyson

A talented wide receiver prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft class, but has been hampered by injuries.

Makai Lemon

A wide receiver prospect with a strong production profile, but had a puzzling pre-draft interview process.

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What they’re saying

“I also feel like they are resetting a little bit. I think they need another weapon. I think they need a tight end to back up - in addition to a wide receiver - they need a tight end to start prepping 'this is it for Kelce.”

— Todd McShay, ESPN Analyst

What’s next

The Chiefs will continue to evaluate their draft options and determine if trading up from the 29th overall pick is the best strategy to address their needs at wide receiver and tight end.

The takeaway

The Chiefs have the draft capital to be aggressive, but must carefully weigh the risks and costs of trading up for a top wide receiver prospect in a class that has several talented but flawed options. Overpaying or missing on a selection could set the franchise back, so prudent decision-making will be crucial.