Chiefs GM Veach Outlines Draft Plans Ahead of 2026 NFL Draft

Kansas City has 9 total picks, including a top-10 selection, to address roster needs on both sides of the ball.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:51pm

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A cubist, fragmented painting depicting a football game, with sharp planes of red, blue, and gold intersecting to create a dynamic, abstract composition that captures the strategic complexity of the NFL draft.The Chiefs' draft strategy aims to reconstruct their roster through a geometric lens, targeting key positions of need to reshape the team's future.Kansas City Today

Kansas City Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach spoke about the team's draft strategy and plans ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Chiefs have 9 total picks, including the 9th overall selection, which Veach says gives them flexibility to address needs on both offense and defense, including the offensive line, wide receiver, defensive end, and secondary. Veach noted the depth at certain positions like offensive tackle and wide receiver, but also acknowledged the relative lack of elite talent at running back this year.

Why it matters

The Chiefs are coming off a disappointing season and need to nail their 2026 draft class to get the team back on track. With multiple holes to fill, Veach's comments provide insight into how the team is approaching the draft and the specific positions they're targeting to improve the roster.

The details

Veach said the Chiefs can't rule out any position with their 9 total picks, including the 9th overall selection. He noted the team has needs on both offense and defense, including the offensive line, wide receiver, defensive end, and secondary after some key offseason departures. Veach highlighted the depth at offensive tackle and wide receiver in this year's draft, but acknowledged the relative lack of elite talent at running back.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft will take place from April 23-25.

The players

Brett Veach

The General Manager of the Kansas City Chiefs.

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What they’re saying

“There's a lot of areas to improve on our roster, on both sides of the football. I think it does open up that No. 9 pick to go in any one direction.”

— Brett Veach, General Manager

“Even with the offensive linemen, there's traits that you like and there's some things all these guys need to clean up and work on, but I think that the grades are so close that it'll come down to the scheme fit, the coach's analysis, the vision, the fit for these guys. I think it should be an entertaining night and there will probably be a lot of trades.”

— Brett Veach, General Manager

“I had mentioned the offensive line, I think there are quite a number of tackles, but I think it does fall off right after that first round, maybe it extends to pick 35 or 40. I think receivers, it's maybe not as top-heavy as it was in the past. There might be a little break, but I do think there is some mid-round depth there at the receiver position. As everyone knows, it's kind of thinner this year at the running back position. I think corners just kind of sprinkled, there's some moderate depth there in (round) one, partly into (round) two and then like the receivers you always get a run of corners in (rounds) three and four.”

— Brett Veach, General Manager

What’s next

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place from April 23-25, where the Chiefs will look to address their roster needs with their 9 total picks, including the 9th overall selection.

The takeaway

The Chiefs have a critical draft ahead of them as they look to bounce back from a disappointing season. GM Brett Veach's comments provide insight into the team's strategy, with a focus on addressing needs on both offense and defense, particularly along the offensive line, at wide receiver, and in the secondary.