Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs had a 2025 NFL season to forget, finishing with a 6-11 record and missing the playoffs for the first time in the Mahomes era. Still, the former Texas Tech quarterback had another solid year before tearing his ACL in Week 15, completing 315-of-502 passes for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, adding another 422 yards and five scores on the ground.
Now, Kansas City will turn its attention to the 2026 season, hoping to have Mahomes back in time for Week 1. The Chiefs have addressed several of their biggest needs in free agency, signing former Seattle Seahawks running back and Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III and ex-Baltimore Ravens safety Alohi Gilman, while also re-signing tight end Travis Kelce.
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The Chiefs will also be selecting much earlier than usual in the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23. Kansas City has the No. 9 overall pick, its highest selection since it took tackle Eric Fisher with the No. 1 pick in the 2013 draft. The Chiefs will also pick at No. 29 after trading cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason.
With just two weeks until the draft, the countdown is on for the Chiefs. On Wednesday, the team noted there are just 15 days until the draft, and with Mahomes wearing No. 15, Kansas City used footage from the quarterback’s draft day in 2017, when he was selected No. 10 overall. The Chiefs also shared a video from Mahomes' post-draft interview.
"The NFL Draft changes everything, just ask @PatrickMahomes," the Chiefs wrote on X. "See y’all in 15 days ⏰"
And Mahomes took notice of the Chiefs’ recent post, calling himself out for having a slightly loose tie knot during his draft-day press conference: “Someone got to fix my tie 😂.” Kansas City also had its own response to Mahomes’ reaction.
"Rookie mistake 🤣," the Chiefs replied.
The 2026 NFL Draft will begin on Thursday, April 23, at 8 p.m. ET and will conclude on April 25.
