The Kansas City Chiefs have already turned their focus to the 2026 NFL Draft, viewing it as a pivotal moment to reset after a season that slipped away and ended a decade-long run of postseason appearances.

A 6-11 record, compounded by injuries and a late-season collapse, has left the franchise searching for answers and convinced that next April’s draft will play a defining role in their recovery.

For the first time since 2013, Kansas City will select inside the top ten without having to trade up.

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Internally, that draft position is being treated as a rare opportunity rather than a consolation prize, especially for an organisation accustomed to picking near the bottom of the first round.

“Those at the highest levels of the Chiefs organization view pick no. 9 as a premium selection with a near-guaranteed opportunity to acquire a true difference-maker and a franchise pillar,” wrote Charles Goodman, managing editor at AtoZ Sports NFL.

“They’re specifically looking for a player who can elevate the offense or defense in the same way that No. 15 took the team’s game to new heights.”

The reference to No. 15 is, of course, unavoidable. Patrick Mahomes changed everything in Kansas City, lifting the franchise out of a 50-year Super Bowl drought and turning it into the league’s modern benchmark.

While no one inside the building is pretending another Mahomes is waiting at pick nine, there is a firm belief that elite draft capital gives you a chance to change a team’s direction quickly.

The Chiefs’ drop into the draft’s upper tier was shaped by more than just bad luck. Injuries piled up, depth was exposed, and the season finally unravelled when Mahomes suffered a torn ACL that ruled him out of the final games. Without their quarterback, Kansas City struggled to stay competitive, forcing a broader evaluation of the roster.

Why pick No. 9 carries unusual weight in Kansas City

History looms large in the background. In 2017, the Chiefs were not supposed to be drafting tenth. They paid a heavy price, trading first- and third-round picks that year and a future first-rounder to move up and secure Mahomes. It was a gamble that reshaped the franchise.

This time, the pick comes without sacrifice. That freedom has opened up options. The front office are not locked into one position and could go offense or defense, depending on how the board falls.

There is quiet acknowledgement, though, that adding another dynamic wide receiver would help ease the load on Mahomes when he returns.

Ownership is clearly energised by the moment. Clark Hunt has spoken openly about the significance of holding a premium selection again, tying it to renewed optimism around the organisation’s direction.

“We’re very excited to have Eric Bieniemy coming back as our offensive coordinator, and of course, we have a top-10 pick coming up in the NFL draft in April,” Hunt said. “The first time we’ve drafted in the top 10, really, since 2013, although in 2017 we did trade up to number 10 to take Patrick Mahomes.”