Chiefs Aim to Bolster Secondary in NFL Draft

Kansas City looks to fill holes at cornerback and wide receiver in upcoming draft

Apr. 15, 2026 at 2:52am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a Kansas City Chiefs football game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of red, gold, and white.The Kansas City Chiefs look to rebuild their secondary and bolster their receiving corps through strategic draft picks.Kansas City Today

With the departure of starting cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to the Los Angeles Rams, the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to focus on shoring up their secondary in the upcoming NFL Draft. The Chiefs also need to add another wide receiver to complement their potent offense led by superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Why it matters

The AFC West is one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL, with the Chiefs, Chargers, Raiders, and Broncos all fielding talented rosters. In order to maintain their status as a Super Bowl contender, the Chiefs must address their needs at cornerback and wide receiver through the draft to keep pace with their divisional rivals.

The details

The Chiefs lost both of their starting cornerbacks from last season, Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, who signed with the Los Angeles Rams in free agency. This leaves a significant hole in the Chiefs' secondary that they will need to fill through the draft. Additionally, the team could use another dynamic wide receiver to complement their star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the rest of their high-powered offense.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft will take place from April 24-26.

The players

Trent McDuffie

A former starting cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs who signed with the Los Angeles Rams in free agency.

Jaylen Watson

A former starting cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs who signed with the Los Angeles Rams in free agency.

Patrick Mahomes

The star quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, leading one of the most potent offenses in the NFL.

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What’s next

The Chiefs will look to address their needs at cornerback and wide receiver through the 2026 NFL Draft, which takes place from April 24-26.

The takeaway

The Chiefs face a critical offseason as they look to maintain their status as a Super Bowl contender in the highly competitive AFC West. Their focus on shoring up the secondary and adding offensive weapons through the draft will be key to their success in the 2026 season.