Copyright yardbarker
The Kansas City Chiefs are an NFL organization that is defined by the stars. When you think of head coach Andy Reid's squad, the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Chris Jones usually come to mind first, and for very good reason. One thing that general manager Brett Veach has quietly done a tremendous job at over the years is finding value via the NFL Draft. That includes players like George Karlaftis, Nick Bolton, and Leo Chenal. In order for Kansas City to keep its winning window open as long as possible, it must continue to replenish its roster through the draft. That took place during the most recent 2-round 2026 NFL mock draft at A to Z Sports, which was a collaborative effort between Joe DeLeone and myself. With the No. 18 selection in the first round, the Chiefs got their draft kicked off. I had them select Oregon star tight end Kenyon Sadiq to become the heir apparent to Kelce. Here is how I see Sadiq potentially fitting in with Mahomes and crew. 18. Kansas City: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon Travis Kelce is playing good football right now, but he can retire at any time. Sadiq looks like the next great NFL tight end, possessing a sturdy frame, explosiveness, and body control to make plays in the air. He’s also a tremendous blocker, which has been his biggest improvement in 2025. – Roberts Even with Kelce still playing good football, he could choose to hang up the cleats at any time. If you are the Chiefs' front office, you have to begin preparing for life after No. 87, as hard as that will be. If there is anyone who could do it, it is Sadiq. He is the type of impact pass catcher who could develop into one of the league's best, and quickly. Sadiq is also a really good run blocker, projecting favorably as a dominant all-purpose option at tight end. In the second round, I chose to go to the defensive side of the football and select Oregon defensive tackle A'Mauri Washington with the No. 53 overall selection, the teammate of Sadiq. The Chiefs are thin on the interior defensive line right now, so adding depth should be a huge priority after the 2025 season. In this case, you got more than just a depth piece. While raw, Washington has massive upside to continue developing. At 6-3 and 330 pounds, Washington has the body type to develop into a monster nose tackle on the NFL level. While his impact will be felt most in the run game, he is also a much better athlete than you might anticipate. If he learns well from Chris Jones, Washington has the talent to develop into a good starter down the road.
