The Chiefs have explored a trade up from the No. 9 pick in the first round of Thursday’s draft, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Kansas City is widely expected to draft a pass rusher or wide receiver, though they have also done their homework on top offensive tackle talent. A cornerback is not out of the question, either, after Trent McDuffie was traded to the Rams.
The Chiefs could certainly stand pat and still secure a premium prospect at one of their positions of need. But if general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid have fallen in love with a specific player, they could use one of their other eight selections or 2027 capital to move up. It is worth noting that they have a second first-round pick this year, the 29th overall selection, which could give them the option to trade up as high as the No. 3 pick.
Moving up to the Browns’ sixth overall pick seems more reasonable. That would allow the Chiefs to jump the Commanders at No. 7, who are believed to have their eye on some of the same positions. Jumping three picks would be much cheaper than six, and it could also pre-empt other clubs looking to snipe the Chiefs’ targets.
However, Kansas City is “thinking about moving back just as much as they are thinking about moving up,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. A team with a top-heavy salary cap picture needs to find multiple contributors in the draft every year, and getting more bites at the apple is crucial, especially in a class with so much Day 2 talent. If the Chiefs do not trade up, but their preferred targets are gone at No. 9, they could suddenly be in the catbird’s seat for the teams behind looking to move up. Among those teams are the Rams (No. 13) and the Eagles (No. 23), according to Breer. The Giants (No. 10) and Dolphins (No. 11) are also candidates for such a move, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
I would prefer a trade down. The value in this draft is found in rounds 2 and 3.
This is a team that never drafts in the top ten. I can understand if they feel like they should take the opportunity to be in striking range of the kind of prospect they never get to draft.
My philosophy is that trading back and getting more picks is always preferable to trading up. Trading up should be saved for that one guy who can move your franchise forward by leaps and bounds and I don’t see that guy in this draft. Mendoza is the closest thing you can find and I doubt they move him anyway. In a spread out draft like this one move back. I still say for the Bears stay at 25 and if both of the Safeties they could get are gone move back. Bears have 68 players signed, No money and need a lot of depth pieces. They have 7 picks, Two of which are 7th rounders so they need more picks AND Money. They need 22 more to get to training camp level of 90. That’s a whole long way to go with no money.
A lot of teams in the top 5-10 want to trade down. And everyone wants picks for next years draft. Teams around going to give good 2027 picks to trade up.
Trade with falcons!
When they’re reportedly looking to trade *up*?