The Kansas City Chiefs could go multiple different directions with their No. 9 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Mock drafts have featured them selecting a variety of positions, including defensive line, running back, defensive back, offensive line, and wide receiver. Whichever way they go, it will be crucial for the Chiefs to hit a home run with the pick as they look to get back to top tier form.
Kansas City has already met with several prospects at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, which began on Thursday and runs through Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. On Friday, one of the top wide receiver prospects confirmed that he has spoken to the Chiefs’ brass.
Kansas City Chiefs Had Formal Meeting With USC Trojans Wide Receiver Makai Lemon
Lemon had a huge junior year at USC, catching 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. Here’s what he had to say about potentially being selected by the Chiefs while speaking to reporters (H/T Ryan Linkletter):
“It would be cool,” Lemon said. “I’ll be the best teammate I can be, [and show] the type of business I can bring, too. I feel like I could help them out.”
Lemon was also asked if he feels that he is the best wide receiver in this year’s draft class.
“Yeah, definitely,” Lemon said. “That’s the type of mentality you got to have. Anywhere you go, you got to think you’re the best.”
Lemon also went on to name the top three quarterbacks he would like to play with in the NFL, and he had some unique answers, while also notably leaving out the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes (H/T The Draft Network).
“Caleb Williams would be cool, [my] former teammate,” Lemon said. “Aaron Rodgers would be cool. He’s a G.O.A.T., he’s a legend. One more, I would go with Jayden Daniels.”
Examining the Current State of the Chiefs’ WRs
Kansas City only has five wide receivers on their roster at the moment- Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Jalen Royals, Jason Brownlee, and Jimmy Holiday. It usually carries at least six on the 53-man roster, and a handful on the practice squad during the season.
Not only do the Chiefs need a lot more bodies at the position, they need quality. Rice is on shaky ground following another off-the-field incident, and simply cannot be relied on as the team’s top pass catcher moving forward. There is still plenty of promise for Worthy moving forward, but he needs another strong receiver to complement him.
Royals, Brownlee, and Holiday have very little NFL experience. That’s a pretty bleak outlook for Kansas City’s receiving corps, and makes the possibility of taking a receiver at No. 9 very real. Lemon fits the bill for the type of receiver the Chiefs like – quick, plays well in the slot, good route runner, and good hands.
If Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate is available at No. 9, he could also be a possible choice for Kansas City. Tate is widely regarded as the very best receiver prospect in the draft, and the Chiefs have met with him at the combine as well. The Chiefs could also address their receiver needs in free agency by acquiring a veteran or two.
Top WR Prospect Confirms He Has Met With Chiefs at Combine