FlurrySports projects three possible Kansas City Chiefs draft targets with the ninth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, including LSU’s Mansoor Delane.
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Coming in with high hopes of making it back to the Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs’ season ended in disappointment after Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL, and the team was eliminated from the playoffs early. Heading into the 2026 season, it feels like the Chiefs are in a little bit of limbo, as Mahomes is coming off a new injury and Travis Kelce is not getting any younger. On top of that, the Chiefs’ defense is not what it once was.
Coming into the 2026 NFL Draft, it seems like there are three points of emphasis for the Chiefs: 1) Get Mahomes protection, 2) Get Mahomes a strong outside weapon, and 3) Get immediate help on defense. The good news for the Kansas City Chiefs’ draft strategy is that at the ninth pick, there should be several options to help kick the draft off on a strong note.
Kansas City Chiefs Draft Targets at No. 9
Mansoor Delane, DB, LSU
Mansoor Delane comes into the 2026 NFL Draft as the projected top cornerback to go off the board, and for good reason. With great size, Delane appears to have the instincts of a veteran cornerback. Delane brings strong physicality, as well as elite speed, which Kansas City is going to need to lock down opposing number-one receivers. The Chiefs do not feature a strong pass rush from the edges, so bringing in a corner who can hold coverage for longer than usual is going to be key in this draft.
Since Trent McDuffie left the Chiefs, Kansas City needs a secondary player to rely on. Delane certainly looks like he can fill that role. His ability to blanket a receiver when the ball comes his way, partnered with his ability to play the run, works perfectly for a Chiefs defense looking for another star player.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
While wide receiver is certainly not the top priority for the Kansas City Chiefs in the draft, it would be very difficult for Andy Reid and Brett Veach to completely ignore the best wide receiver in the class. With Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce doing most of their damage underneath and over the middle of the field, having a reliable target on the outside is going to be paramount to keeping that middle open. At 6-2, Tate has the size and that coordination to win on contested balls. Over the past few seasons, Kansas City has tried to remedy its outside receiver position with players like Marquez Valdez-Scantling and Tyquon Thornton. While those receivers have produced okay results, bringing in Tate will be much more productive than being a field stretcher.
If Kansas City does select Tate, they immediately have their future go-to target when Kelce inevitably retires.
Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
When your entire franchise revolves around the superstar quarterback, you need to do everything you can to keep him healthy. Now facing his second major injury, Patrick Mahomes needs to voice his opinion for the Chiefs to shore up the offensive line in the draft. That starts on the outside of the line, as given Mahomes’ mobility and agility, keeping the edge clean is very important for the Chiefs to maximize Mahomes’ talent. With the tackle position being a little bit of a mystery this draft, the Chiefs may need to take a bit of a gamble when drafting the position. That leads me to believe that Monroe Freeling could be atop the Chief’s tackle list.
It is no secret that Freeling has a ways to go before he becomes a quality NFL starter, as he will struggle in run blocking and with pass-pro, but his 6-7 size seems too good to pass up. If Mahomes can keep that mobility from before his knee injury, Freeling is going to get a little grace on missing blocks with Mahomes making defenders miss.
