What to know before The Star’s Chiefs mock NFL Draft 5.0 is released this week

The Kansas City Star’s most recent mock NFL Draft for the Chiefs finds a new wide receiver at No. 9.

Here’s what to know before The Star’s mock 5.0 is released this week (the NFL Draft is next week, April 23-25, in Pittsburgh):

What to know

The Kansas City Star’s fourth mock draft for the Chiefs has beat reporters Pete Sweeney and Blair Kerkhoff projecting that KC will take a wide receiver with the ninth overall pick — Kansas City’s first top-10 selection since trading up for QB Patrick Mahomes in 2017. The 10-round mock addresses depth across both sides of the ball.

FULL STORY: As NFL Draft approaches for Chiefs, we place new wide receiver atop our mock 4.0

Here are key takeaways:

• First-round pick: The writers project Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jordyn Tyson at No. 9, citing his 6-foot-2 size and yards-after-catch ability, though he has durability concerns — including a multi-ligament knee injury in 2022 and a fractured collarbone in 2024.

• Why wide receiver matters: Marquise “Hollywood” Brown has departed, JuJu Smith-Schuster remains a free agent and the Chiefs learned Rashee Rice won’t be suspended after domestic violence allegations were raised by his former girlfriend.

• Second-round projection: Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell, brother of Falcons first-rounder A.J. Terrell, forced eight fumbles over his last two college seasons.

• Pass-rush help: The mock 4.0 addresses the Chiefs’ need for an edge rusher in Round 3, with a Big 12 player who recorded 19 1/2 sacks in college and ran the second-fastest 10-yard split among defensive ends at the NFL Combine.

• Tight end plan: With Travis Kelce returning alongside Patrick Mahomes, the writers project the Chiefs will wait until Day 3 for a tight end, targeting a 6-6, 267-pound run-blocking specialist.

• Running back depth: After signing Kenneth Walker and Emari Demercado, the Chiefs are projected to add a Day 3 back with similar early-down traits against insurance for Walker’s injury history.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.

This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 6:03 PM with the headline "What to know before The Star’s Chiefs mock NFL Draft 5.0 is released this week."