Chiefs Might Make Big Splash by Trading Up - But Should They?

Multiples sources have now projected the Kansas City Chiefs to trade up to get Arvell Reese tonight in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Several teams with a pick ahead of KC's first at #9 overall would presumably choose Reese, so KC would need to offer a trade package including the #9 and #29 picks and maybe more to get in the right spot. Reese is a versatile, explosive 6'4 edge rusher who many analysts compare to Micah Parsons. His floor, according to analysts, is starting impact edge rusher, and his ceiling is consistent candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. So, how likely is it that we see the Chiefs trade up for this generational talent, and would it be the right move?

I think it's highly possible based on how Chiefs general manager Brett Veach typically uses the NFL draft. Veach wants to make a can't-miss choice at a premium position with what everyone cheering for the Chiefs hopes is the highest draft position of the Patrick Mahomes era. Adding talent to the secondary, the pass rush and the wide receiver room are the Chiefs' biggest priorities right now, and Veach loves turning later-round picks into safeties and cornerbacks that develop into legit starters in the NFL. When the team has numerous other positions of need, it makes sense to utilize this strength and spend that valuable draft pick elsewhere. Also, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is considered the most can't-miss secondary prospect in this year's draft, and spending a top-ten draft pick on one of the league's lowest-paid positions when there are other issues to address would seem unwise.

Rushing the passer is one of those issues, and after stud pass rusher David Bailey goes as many expected at the #2 spot to the New York Jets (or only slightly later if those reported indications were false), the next EDGE off the board is expected to be Rueben Bain Jr. Despite a strong pedigree in nearly every other facet of the game, his historically short arms have become a hotly contested talking point across the internet's vast and sometimes silly landscape. Problem or not, it could be enough to make Veach and his staff lean away from Bain Jr. at the #9 spot of this draft. Wide receiver is another position where the Chiefs need help, and Jordyn Tyson is expected to be within range of the ninth overall pick. A combination of injury concerns and a high volume of high-ceiling receivers in the latter end of the first round could make the Chiefs hesitant about picking Tyson so early.

Potential flaws in the philosophy of drafting practically anyone at #9 lends credence to the idea of trading up for Reese. Veach has done more research and pondered every what-if far more deeply than I've done here, so he knows every risk with every player they could potentially choose at #9. If I can think up a viable reason for why not to draft each of the guys they could target in that spot, Veach has already thoroughly done the same. Other teams and scenarios may stop the Chiefs for trading up for Reese, and if they do, I can see Kansas City trading down to get more draft capital out of more desperate teams. However, if the opportunity presents itself, I'd love to see the Chiefs be bold and trade up for Reese in order to add genuine greatness to their defense for years and years to come.

Will Chiefs Chase History By Defying Draft Logic?

NFL draft speculation is dominating sports media in this unique time-frame in which the sports world is otherwise paused. It makes me wish I was already a draft mega-nerd, but I sadly don't have the chops that these experts have. As a wannabe journalist and a long-time fan of your world champion Kansas City Chiefs, I can only express my own desires and fears. With all of Chiefs Kingdom riding a wave of confidence that can come only from Super Bowl success, it only makes sense that what I want from this draft is defined more by fans' desires than by their fears.

I did not want a wide receiver initially, despite the apparent depth of worthwhile picks available, but things change quickly when talking about the draft. I thought about maybe five positions before thinking about wide receiver for the first-round pick, but it's worth remembering that the Chiefs probably won't have Sammy Watkins or Demarcus Robinson after this upcoming season. With that in mind, rumors about KC trading up for Alabama receiver Henry Ruggs III caught my attention and slowly started sounding more believable. Quotes that Andy Reid "loves Ruggs" gave me visions of a possible future that induced some serious goosebumps.

Ruggs ran a ridiculous 4.27 forty-yard dash and oozes with natural talent. His already-high projection as a first-round pick somewhere between #10 and 20 overall was perhaps damaged by starting at 'Bama alongside fellow elite receiver prospect Jerry Jeudy. Some say Ruggs displays more skills relatable to excelling as an NFL wideout than Jeudy, who many experts rank as their #1 receiver prospect. Henry's the fastest guy in the draft, regardless of position, and suddenly I realize that I really, really want him on my team at all costs.

It's not as if the Chiefs are totally screwed if they don't draft for a particular position. The front line of Steve Spagnuolo's defense has some depth and talent already, and the safety position is as solid as it can be. I read numerous Chiefs blog offerings about Kansas City aiming for an offensive lineman, but this speculation came before we knew the Canadian doctor would return to wear red and gold this season. Now that Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is officially back in action and veteran Mike Remmers will also be joining the squad, I don't think Veach wants to go O-Line in the first round, either.

I don't have the kind of drafting wisdom that the experts have, but I know the Chiefs lack depth at the linebacker and cornerback positions. If KC picks someone from either of these positions, I'll still be happy, as a lot of talent will reportedly be available at #32. Noah Igbinoghene is athletically impressive and also shows some incredible instincts and anticipation skills. A.J Terrell from Clemson is a physically gifted CB, and linebackers like Patrick Queen or Zack Baun project as one of the best Chiefs at that position in years. I'll be damned, though, if this silly wide receiver rumor doesn't have me salivating a little bit.

Honestly, if we draft anybody in the first round that isn't a QB, I'll just assume Brett Veach knows best and stay content. After all, Veach built a roster that brought back a ring, and I wanted to draft Watson instead of Mahomes.

Speaking of Veach, he already went out and added depth at numerous other positions of need by singing or re-signing trustworthy veterans. All his recent moves could be perceived as evidence that he would like to maintain his ability to draft for talent instead of drafting for need. That philosophy makes sense when the vast majority of a Super Bowl-winning roster is already set to return this upcoming season. Despite their aforementioned lack of depth on defense, the Chiefs don't "need" to draft any particular position. Drafting a trustable linebacker or CB would ease some concerns in the Kingdom, but that doesn't define it as something KC "needs". So, why wouldn't Veach pick somebody that he and Andy Reid thinks can achieve greatness?

Brett Veach deserves credit for trying to go big if Ruggs III is a significant part of his plan. Imagine if the Alabama standout becomes the standout in the NFL that many of the league's best talent analysis experts think he can be. The Chiefs will have Patrick Mahomes throwing to Mecole Hardman, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and another star with elite speed for at least two full seasons - and they'll be able to somehow afford it.

Trading up is a risky, expensive ordeal, and deciding to do so would mean that the entire organization thinks the potential reward outweighs the big risk. Upgrading the offense with another elite receiver would give KC the potential for historically unprecedented success on offense. Making this decision would mean that Veach and Reid envision Henry Ruggs III turning the Chiefs into the greatest offense in football history.

I don't know if it's the smart thing to hope for, but the heart wants what it wants.

Precisely zero mock drafts that I can find have the Chiefs doing this, but predicting a team to trade up is tough. I say that, but two mock drafts from CBS Sports include the Philadelphia Eagles or Denver Broncos trading up to acquire the 'Bama blazer instead, and those aren't the only interested teams. Other possible destinations for Ruggs III include San Francisco and Las Vegas. It sounds like Chiefs Kingdom could wind up loving or hating him based on what happens tonight.

I'll still buy into drafting anybody that doesn't help KC's lack of defensive depth because of Brett Veach's previous triumphs as a big-time decision-maker. For many reasons, this truly unique draft should be seen by Chiefs Kingdom more as a source of fun than a source of stress. Let's all enjoy the respite as much as possible.

Doug LaCerte writes about Kansas City sports and mostly neglects Twitter and Facebook until there's stuff going on that's actually worth talking about.