2026 NFL Mock Draft: Chiefs Add Another Receiver

The Kansas City Chiefs walk away from the NFL draft feeling pretty good about their roster heading into next season. The best thing they could've asked for in the first round was an offensive lineman who addresses their need, and they traded one pick back and still got Josh Simmons.

They traded with the Philadelphia Eagles, and with the pick they got from them, they later used in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers to get Jeffrey Basa. They also added offensive weapons, Jalen Royals and Brashard Smith, who have an opportunity to be impactful for a team hungry to make it back to the Super Bowl.

The Chiefs' incoming rookie class hasn't played a snap of NFL football, and yet it's not too early to look ahead to the future at next year's draft class. Chris Trapasso is a sports writer for CBS Sports, and in an article he recently published, he predicts the Chiefs will draft Carnell Tate with the 29th overall pick.

"While not quite to the level of a Marvin Harrison Jr., Garrett Wilson, or Emeka Egbuka, Tate went over 50 catches and 700 yards in the shadow of eventual first-round pick Jeremiah Smith last season while winning the national title with the Buckeyes. He'd be a vertical, separation-based, savvy route runner for Patrick Mahomes".

In 2024, Tate had 52 receptions for 733 yards and four touchdowns. Tate will never be the Ohio State Buckeyes' primary receiver, but he has a chance to make another leap next season and improve his draft stock.

The Chiefs have already invested quite a bit into their wide receivers, with Xavier Worthy being a first-round pick last year and drafting Rashee Rice two years ago, as well as Royals. The Chiefs only make this selection if Royals or another player doesn't step up as their definitive third option.

The Chiefs are locked into Worthy and Rice being their two main options, but outside of that, it's a revolving door of receivers. They re-signed Hollywood Brown out of free agency to give him another chance to play with the team after barely seeing the field last season. Tate would presumably fill that role.

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