Halfway through the 2026 season, the Chiefs’ rookie class has already given Kansas City a little bit of everything: a blue-chip corner who’s been slowed by injuries, a defensive tackle who looks like a future star, a fifth-round running back who has smashed expectations, and even an undrafted tackle who somehow ended up protecting the blind side.
That’s a pretty strong return for a team that went into April knowing it couldn’t waste any more of Patrick Mahomes’ prime. The Chiefs came out of the draft with seven selections, and Brett Veach even moved up to No. 6 to make sure he got his guy. Now that the season is at the midpoint, the early results are in.
Mansoor Delane, the LSU corner taken with the first-round pick at No. 6, has been exactly what Kansas City hoped for when it paid a third-round pick to climb the board. The on-field play has been strong overall, but a nagging shoulder issue has kept him in and out of the lineup.
He did have a rough day against Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but that came with an asterisk. If Delane can stay healthy and keep stacking consistent weeks, this one will look like a major win.
Peter Woods, the Clemson defensive tackle drafted at No. 29, has looked like the best interior defender on the roster when he’s been available. He’s shown burst, handled double teams, and held up well against the run while doing his job at a high level. A lower snap count and a neck stinger he picked up late last week have limited him, but the talent has been obvious enough to keep the arrow pointing up.
R Mason Thomas has been one of the more encouraging surprises in the class. The Oklahoma edge rusher went at No. 40, and there were questions about whether he was a reach and how he’d fit in Kansas City’s defense.
So far, he’s flashed the traits that made him a top-75 player on the pre-draft board. The fit still isn’t seamless, and his playing time has dipped over the last couple of weeks, but the early returns are promising.
Jadon Canady, the Oregon corner selected in the fourth round at No. 109, finally got his first real defensive run last week against the Broncos and looked the part. He entered the draft with other nickel corners graded ahead of him, but he projected well for this defense from the start. His man-coverage ability stands out, and if Kansas City keeps feeding him snaps, his stock could rise fast.
The biggest steal of the group so far might be Emmett Johnson. The Nebraska running back was taken in the fifth round at No. 161, and he has already looked like a starter-level player at times.
He’s been reliable behind Kenneth Walker and even picked up Rookie of the Week honors after a huge performance against Denver just a week ago. For a fifth-rounder, that’s about as good as it gets.
Cyrus Allen, another fifth-round pick, has also earned his way onto the field. The Cincinnati receiver went at No. 176 and was the camp standout for Kansas City.
Since then, the Chiefs have steadily increased his role, and he looks set to stay in the WR rotation the rest of the year. Even without eye-popping numbers, that kind of usage in Andy Reid’s offense is meaningful value.
Garrett Nussmeier, taken in the seventh round at No. 249, has at least justified the pick by sticking around. The LSU quarterback wasn’t a selection the writer loved on draft day, but his offseason play and gunslinger style made him interesting enough to watch.
He has made the roster and served as the emergency quarterback every game this season. For a seventh-rounder, that’s a win.
Then there’s Kahlil Benson, the undrafted tackle from Colorado, who has been one of the best stories of the class. Kansas City brought him to camp, he impressed quickly, and he earned both a contract and a starting job at left tackle.
It’s his first season playing left tackle at a high level, and he has been elite as a run blocker while holding up well enough in pass protection. For a player added after the draft, that’s a massive hit.
Xavier Nwankpa, the Iowa safety who came in as a UDFA, has also done enough to count as a success. He has played only five defensive snaps, but one of them turned into an interception.
Most of his value has come on special teams, where he’s provided useful depth. For a player with almost no investment attached, that matters.
At the halfway point, this rookie class has given the Chiefs real reasons to feel good about April. Some of the names are still developing, some have been slowed by injuries, and some are making their mark in quieter ways. But the early grades show a group that has already delivered plenty of value.
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