The Chiefs’ fast start has cooled, and that makes the next week a lot more important for Brett Veach.
Kansas City opened the 2026 season looking like one of the league’s best teams, then dropped its last two games to the Seahawks and Broncos after a 5-0 start. With the trade deadline only a week away, the front office is staring at a clear choice: stay patient, or get aggressive.
The case for action is built around both need and timing. The Chiefs are projected to hold 10 picks in the 2027 NFL Draft, including four top-100 selections and six Day 3 picks.
That kind of draft capital gives Veach room to work, especially with the 2027 class no longer carrying the same shine it did before the season. What once looked like a premium draft has become harder to trust at the top, with many top prospects losing value in the chaotic college football landscape.
That shift matters for Kansas City. The Chiefs have obvious holes, especially at wide receiver, safety and offensive tackle, and the source of the article’s reporting points to a simple conclusion: the team can’t keep waiting for the draft to solve everything. The roster needs help now, and there’s also room this offseason to create cap space for extensions on players acquired in trades.
Wide receiver appears to be the main focus. James Palmer reported on November 2, 2026, that “The #Chiefs appear to be really only looking at WR before the deadline. They've been looking and will continue to have conversations and I get the sense things will pick up and a move is more likely than not.”
That lines up with the sense around the market. Since Tyreek Hill left, Kansas City has had only one pass catcher top 1,000 yards, with Travis Kelce doing it in 2022.
Patrick Mahomes has also dealt with constant turnover up front, with 10 different starting left tackles since 2023. This season, he’ll have his first 1,000-yard rusher since entering the NFL almost a decade ago, but the offense still needs another difference-maker on the outside.
Brian Thomas Jr. is viewed as the best receiver available and the most expensive. The Jaguars are reportedly waiting for the right return, with many believing they want a Day 2 pick.
The Chiefs have the ammunition to get there. They currently hold two third-round picks and could even part with their second-rounder if necessary, possibly getting a late pick back in the deal.
Other names on the market include Jerry Jeudy and Rashod Bateman, both of whom could be had for an early Day 3 pick or one of Kansas City’s third-round selections. Stefon Diggs and Chris Godwin are also mentioned as veteran options who could step in and immediately become the top wide receiver in the Chiefs’ offense.
There’s even room to look beyond receiver if the value is right. Walker Little and Dylan Cook are two offensive tackle options who could help the line this year and beyond.
What the Chiefs should avoid, though, is going overboard. The article specifically warns against any deal that would cost multiple first-round picks for someone like Garrett Wilson.
Still, the larger message is clear: Kansas City should be buying, not sitting on its hands. With 10 picks in a draft that may not be as strong at the top as expected, and with a run game, defense and Patrick Mahomes already in place, the Chiefs have a chance to use their draft capital on help that can matter right away. Brett Veach doesn’t need to play it safe.
In Other News...
Chiefs Suddenly Face A Bigger AFC Question Than Fans Expected
The Chiefs early cushion has disappeared in a hurry. After opening 5-0, Kansas City has now dropped two straight, including a recent loss to the Broncos, and the sudden skid has turned a comfortable-looking start into a more complicated picture for a team that still entered the week with championship expectations.
Even with the losses, the market is not treating the Chiefs like a team in crisis. DraftKings still has Kansas City among the AFCs top contenders, but the path back to the conferences top spot looks less straightforward now, with Buffalo and Jacksonville sitting ahead in the odds and Denver holding the AFC West lead. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Catch A Timely Break As Cardinals Backfield Thins Out
The Cardinals backfield is suddenly a lot thinner at a bad time, with Arizona trying to piece together its rushing plan as it gets ready to face the Chiefs. Jeremiyah Loves injury leaves the offense without one of its key options, and the ripple effect is obvious for a unit that was already dealing with some uncertainty at the position.
Tyler Allgeier is now in line to carry a heavier load, with James Conner and Bam Knight also dealing with injuries. For Kansas City, it is a timely development that could shape how Arizona approaches the game, especially if the Cardinals are forced to lean more heavily on a patchwork rotation than they expected. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Secondary Has Another Immediate Question Fans Need To Watch
Kansas Citys secondary is already dealing with another early-season health question, and this one centers on cornerback Mansoor Delane. The shoulder issue that has followed him since the offseason flared up again in practice, and it was enough to keep him out of the Week 8 matchup with Denver. For a defense that has leaned on depth and flexibility in the back end, any absence at cornerback is worth monitoring closely.
Andy Reid said Delanes status will be handled day to day, which leaves the door open for a return as soon as Week 9 if the shoulder responds well. For now, the Chiefs are waiting to see whether the injury calms down enough for him to get back on the field, and that uncertainty is the part fans will want to track as the week goes on. [Read more 🡒]