Jul 26, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) steps to the line as general manager Brett Veach watches in the background during training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images Denny Medley-Imagn Images

3 Teams Chiefs Could Trade Up With in Draft

Originally posted on Kansas City Chiefs on SI
By Logan Lazarczyk | Last updated Apr 3, 2026 9:00 AM ET

Despite entering the 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 9 pick, the Kansas City Chiefs are in a precarious position, as they could miss out on most of their preferred targets with that pick.

Kansas City addressed a couple of its needs in free agency, but the front office needs to take drastic measures to solidify the rest of the roster. With the Chiefs potentially on the outside looking in on the top-tier prospects in the draft, could they explore trading up in the draft? If so, which teams present plausible options as trade partners with Kansas City?

Cleveland Browns

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Obviously, the Chiefs would love to move up as high up the board as possible, but it would cost Kansas City a surplus of draft capital, which is not worth it. However, moving up three spots is a manageable price tag, and the Browns could be open for business, per general manager Andrew Berry.

"It really just depends on the prospects that are available," Berry said. "I don't know that [we will find a trade partner], but I would tell you guys, I don't know that we're going to be picking at six at the end of April, and if we are picking six, I have no idea what we're going to take at this point."

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Of all the teams selecting inside the top 10, the Browns are the most difficult to predict, but they did lose their entire starting offensive line from 2025.

Washington Commanders

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Washington owns the No. 7 pick in the draft, and it could be a potential trade partner with Kansas City, depending on how the board shakes out. If running back Jeremiyah Love is available, the Commanders could be inclined to keep the pick and draft the Notre Dame product.

However, if edge rusher David Bailey is available, the Chiefs should be willing to trade up and solidify their pass rush, and pair the Texas Tech product with Chris Jones and George Karlaftis.

New York Giants

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This could prove too expensive for the Chiefs to trade into the top five, and the Giants could be set on taking one of the elite prospects, such as linebacker Sonny Styles. However, if New York feels that it can trade back and still draft a prospect who would be at the fifth-overall pick, the Chiefs should consider trading up.

Additionally, New York could feel comfortable sliding back four spots and feel that it will not miss out on one of its top targets.

This article first appeared on Kansas City Chiefs on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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