Chiefs got defensive on first day of NFL Draft. Here’s who they selected, and why
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- Chiefs used both first-round picks on defense during the 2026 NFL Draft opening day.
- Kansas City traded up three spots to select LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.
- Chiefs concluded opening night by selecting Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods at 29.
On the first day of the 2026 NFL Draft, holding two first-round picks, the Chiefs concentrated on one side of the ball.
Defense.
They even engineered the draft’s first trade, moving up three spots to select cornerback Mansoor Delane of LSU.
We’re here today with a special episode of SportsBeat KC, the sports podcast of The Star and KCUR (89.3 FM). Chiefs beat writer Pete Sweeney, covering the draft in Pittsburgh, breaks down the team’s opening-night haul, which concluded with the selection of Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods at No. 29.
We also identify the Chiefs’ needs as the draft continues on Friday and Saturday.
This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 1:08 AM with the headline "Chiefs got defensive on first day of NFL Draft. Here’s who they selected, and why."