Chiefs add No. 1 receiver, Leo Chenal replacement in ESPN mock draft

We are under a month away from the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Kansas City Chiefs have so many different directions to think about going with the collection of picks No. 9, No. 29 and No. 40.

In ESPN’s latest mock draft, analyst Field Yates predicted each pick of the first two rounds in April’s draft. That means three predictions for the Chiefs; he started with a splash in the top 10.

9. Kansas City Chiefs
Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

The Chiefs are in desperate need of more big-play receivers, as Xavier Worthy hasn’t been a consistent spark plug for them the past two seasons. Tyson is the most explosive wide receiver in the draft and neck and neck with Carnell Tate for WR1 in my rankings. He has very good size, acceleration, unique run-after-catch skills and field-stretching ability.

Tyson dealt with a hamstring injury in 2025 and previously suffered a broken collarbone and ACL tear, but he changes an offense when healthy. He had 50 catches, 732 yards and six touchdowns in the final six games of the 2024 season.

Tyson by the numbers

The prediction of Tyson is not new for the Chiefs, but it has felt less likely since the NFL Scouting Combine confirmed the lingering nature of Tyson’s injuries; he also did not participate at his Pro Day due to effects from the hamstring injury.

When he has been on the field for the Sun Devils, Tyson has showcased a strong profile to be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL. Here are some statistical trends from the last two seasons that point to that, courtesy of Pro Football Focus premium stats.

He aligned in the slot for 35% of his pass snaps, pointing to versatility in lining up out wide or aligning as the No. 2 or No. 3 receiver in formation.
He converted 65% of his receptions into first downs or touchdowns. He was constantly moving the chains, averaging a depth of target of roughly 12 yards to do so.
On passes thrown 10 or more yards downfield, Tyson has 56 catches, 1,172 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has registered five drops in those situations over the last two years, but he still has a notable success rate on contested catches (14 of 24 opportunities).

Although he couldn’t boast the athleticism in this pre-draft process, he “hit 22.8 mph” on the GPS during his time at Arizona State, according to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman in last year’s “Freaks List.” Last season, Indianapolis Colts’ running back Jonathan Taylor was the NFL’s fastest ball carrier on any play with a speed of 22.38 mph, per NFL Next Gen Stats.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from LAR)
Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

The Chiefs haven’t had two first-round picks since 2022, when they drafted cornerback Trent McDuffie and edge rusher George Karlaftis. While the former was traded this offseason (to land this pick), the latter needs some help on the edge.

Howell was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year after racking up 11.5 sacks in 2025, displaying an excellent first step, ability to bend the edge and closing speed. He lacks the optimal length for an edge rusher with just 30¼-inch arms, but that is offset by his ability to get underneath and around offensive tackles.

Howell by the numbers

For storylines, there are similarities with this pick of Howell — a graduate from Rockhurst High School — and the 2023 first-round selection of Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who calls Lee’s Summit High School his alma mater. Two Kansas City kids, both coming home.

However, Howell is a much higher-profile pick than Anudike-Uzomah was (and continues to be). Over two years at Texas A&M, Howell generated pressure on 14.4% of his pass-rush opportunities and totaled 15.5 sacks to go along with 22.5 tackles for loss. He also defended 13 passes and forced two fumbles in SEC competition.

This comes after developing into a menacing defender at Bowling Green over three seasons; in his final year there, Howell pressured quarterbacks on 18.3% of pass rushes and earned 9.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss.

He is a questionable fit in Kansas City, partly due to his arm length, but it points to a broader point about his ability as an outside linebacker, more so than a defensive end. He dropped into coverage 199 times in his college career.

40. Kansas City Chiefs
Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

Kansas City saw Leo Chenal sign with the Commanders and could find his replacement in Golday, a former Central Arkansas star who wrapped up his career at Cincinnati. He’s instinctive and rangy, and he could provide legit pass-rush juice for coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. He registered 12 pressures on just 68 pass-rush snaps in 2025.

Golday by the numbers

There is appeal in drafting Golday, a 6-foot-4, 239-pound linebacker who showcased elite athleticism at the Combine.

For the Bearcats’ defense, Golday made contributions in many different facets. He played the third-most snaps among all defenders, and spent nearly as much time spread out into the slot (36% of defensive snaps) as he did aligned in the box (46%) during the 2025 season.

In coverage, he broke up three passes and wasn’t called for a single penalty in 2025.
Overall, Golday led Cincinnati in “Stops” (43) — or tackles that constitute a failure for the defense.
Over 80 pass-rush snaps, Golday registered 18 pressures; five of them were quarterback hits, and four others were finished as sacks. He ended the season with the second-most pressures for Cincinnati.