Chiefs Fall Without Mahomes, Eye Rare Top-10 Draft Pick as Season Winds Down
The Kansas City Chiefs' season took a hard left in Week 15 when Patrick Mahomes went down with a season-ending injury-and in Week 16, the team looked every bit like a squad missing its MVP-caliber quarterback. Facing a Tennessee Titans team that had only managed two wins all year, the Chiefs couldn’t get anything going, ultimately falling in a game that underscored just how much Mahomes means to this franchise.
The loss dropped Kansas City to 6-9 on the season, and while that record isn’t something fans are used to seeing during the Andy Reid era, there’s a silver lining here-one that could have long-term benefits. With two games left on the schedule and Chris Oladokun potentially starting under center, the Chiefs are suddenly in the mix for a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Where Things Stand in the Draft Order
As of now, the Chiefs sit at the 12th overall spot in the projected draft order. Here’s a quick look at the teams currently ahead of them:
- 2. Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)
- 3. Cleveland Browns (3-12)
- 4. New York Jets (3-12)
- 5. Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
- 6. Tennessee Titans (3-12)
- 7. Washington Commanders (4-11)
- 8. New Orleans Saints (5-10)
- 9. Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)
- 10. Miami Dolphins (6-9)
- 11. Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons, 6-9)
- 12. Kansas City Chiefs (6-9)
That’s a crowded middle of the pack, but with two games still to play, there’s a real shot for Kansas City to climb into the top 10-especially considering how things are shaping up down the stretch.
The Final Stretch: Broncos and Raiders
Kansas City closes out the season against two division rivals: the Denver Broncos on Christmas night and the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 18. The Broncos have been playing solid football, and with Mahomes out, the odds are stacked against the Chiefs pulling off a holiday upset. That game could very well push Kansas City to 6-10.
Then comes a Week 18 matchup with the Raiders, who-at 2-13-are in prime position to lock up the No. 1 overall pick. Depending on how things shake out, that game could turn into a strange dynamic where Raiders fans are rooting against their own team to secure the top spot, while Chiefs fans might be hoping for a win just to play spoiler.
But let’s be honest: most Chiefs fans are already looking ahead to April.
A Rare Opportunity in the Reid-Mahomes Era
This kind of draft positioning just doesn’t happen often in Kansas City anymore. The last time the Chiefs earned a top-10 pick based on their own record was back in 2012, when they went 2-12-a season that led to the hiring of Andy Reid. The only other time they picked in the top 10 during this era was in 2017, but that was after trading up to select Mahomes himself.
Now, with Mahomes sidelined and the playoffs out of reach, fans have every reason to embrace the rare opportunity to reload with elite talent. A top-10 pick could bring in a game-changing wide receiver, a cornerstone offensive tackle, or a defensive difference-maker-someone who can step in and help this team get right back into Super Bowl contention next season.
Looking Ahead
It’s not the ending Chiefs Kingdom envisioned when the season kicked off, but it’s also not the end of the world. This team is still built around a generational quarterback, a Hall of Fame head coach, and a front office that’s shown it knows how to build a contender.
And now, they might just get to do it with a top-10 draft pick in their back pocket.
So while the final two games may not carry playoff implications, they do carry weight. Every snap, every loss, and every other team’s result could shift the Chiefs’ draft position-and with it, the trajectory of their future.
For now, Kansas City fans can do something they haven’t done in over a decade: watch the draft board just as closely as the scoreboard.