B+
Kansas City Chiefs
Grand theft in pick 109: the Chiefs steal Wheatley and grade out a B+.
by jsteil ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 11 picks
· 3 steals
· 1 reaches
Give the war room a raise for the dealing alone. The Chiefs came out ahead on every exchange that mattered, and it was not close. A sturdy weekend that grades out a B+.
Whatever else happened, they won the night they took Wheatley. The quarterback hole is the one line item this class does not answer.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but quarterback.
Pick-by-Pick
In Round 1, Pick 18 they get a go-to option on the outside. Exactly the need they had to hit.
They took Chris Johnson at par in the Round 1 slot, which is nothing to complain about. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
Zion Young in the 40th pick is fair value, right on his grade. The roster fit checks out.
Max Iheanachor at No. 49 is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the offensive lineman. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Eli Stowers at the 74th overall pick is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
They paid sticker price for Deontae Lawson in pick No. 82, and that is fine. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
You do not let a safety like Zakee Wheatley reach the 109th overall pick and blink. They did not. It adds depth where they could use a little.
By-the-book stuff, Charles Demmings at the Round 5 slot squarely in line with his ranking. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
They paid up for Aaron Anderson at the 169th pick when waiting would have done the job. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A straight-up fair deal on Zane Durant at No. 176, value and slot in agreement. It fills a real need, too.
A slide stopped in pick No. 210, with Kendrick Law worth more than the price. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.