ESPN’s latest NFL mock draft suggests the Kansas City Chiefs will use their top pick in April to address a weakness they have had for years.
After 10 straight seasons of excellence, the KC Chiefs’ dynasty may have finally ended in 2025. For the first time since head coach Andy Reid took over in 2013, Kansas City finished with a losing record (6-11). But adding harsh insult to injury, superstar QB and the face of the organization, Patrick Mahomes, suffered a season-ending ACL tear that has his Week 1 availability up in the air.
That is why this will be a very interesting offseason as the KC Chiefs front office looks to tweak the roster to get back to their Super Bowl contender standard in 2026. While they are sure to be active on the free agent and trade markets, Reid and the front office will look to make the most out of having a rare pick in the top 10 of April’s NFL Draft.
Improving the offensive line and parts of the defense will surely be on the team’s to-do list this season. However, with the ninth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, ESPN’s Field Yates believes the KC Chiefs will address a problem they have had throughout their dynasty, the run game.
“While I don’t know if Jeremiyah Love will fall to this pick in April, I would be surprised if he makes it past the Chiefs,” Fields wrote. “Simply put, Love is the biggest non-QB difference-maker in the class. As a runner, he has terrific explosiveness and vision. As a receiver, his routes from the slot look no different from a wideout.
“The Chiefs need a major boost to their backfield after ranking 25th in rushing yards per game (106.6). And I’d imagine general manager Brett Veach would be tempted to sprint the card himself to make this pick.”
Why the KC Chiefs need to take Jeremiyah Love with top pick in April
While the KC Chiefs’ run game struggled this past season, they have lacked a true No. 1, impact running back for years. You have to go back to Reid’s first two seasons in Kansas City to find a running back who ran for 1,000 or more yards. That was Jamaal Charles in 2013 and 2014.
The greatness of Mahomes and Travis Kelce, along with the scheming of Reid, has overcome that weakness over the last decade. However, the tight end is no longer in his prime, and Mahomes is showing the wear and tear of nine mostly long seasons in the league. The Chiefs need a go-to player in the backfield that the superstar QB can hand the ball off to with confidence.
Furthermore, the Notre Dame star was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2025 because he can be a threat in the passing game. Something Reid and returning offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy can make use of. Love has the elite talent to be the missing ingredient that the KC Chiefs offense has lacked for the last five years.
