The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off one of their most disappointing seasons in recent memory. While franchise quarterback Patrick Mahomes saw his year cut short due to ACL and LCL injuries, his overall performance also fell below his usual standards.
Mahomes completed 62.7 percent of his passes, the lowest mark of his career, for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions across 14 games. He was also sacked 34 times, the second-highest total of his career, highlighting ongoing issues along the offensive line, which were further underscored by the release of Jawaan Taylor.
However, the struggles were not limited to protection. Kansas City’s pass-catching group failed to provide consistent production. Travis Kelce led the team with 851 receiving yards and five touchdowns, while none of Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, or Marquise Brown surpassed 600 yards.
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With Brown now with the Philadelphia Eagles, and Rice and Worthy yet to establish themselves as reliable top options, upgrading the wide receiver room should be a top priority. That would not only support Mahomes’ return but also help the Chiefs get back into Super Bowl contention.
ESPN’s Peter Schrager echoed that sentiment in his latest 2026 mock draft, projecting Kansas City to select Jordyn Tyson out of Arizona State Sun Devils with the ninth overall pick.
“With a top-10 pick for the first time since 2017 — when the Chiefs took some guy named Patrick Mahomes — Kansas City can go in a variety of directions here. Cornerback and edge rusher are certainly options. I still think finding offensive playmakers is a major priority, though, especially with Mahomes coming off the ACL injury. Tyson pops more than any other receiver in this draft class; he just needs to stay healthy,” Schrager wrote.
The Chiefs have long been building around Mahomes, and that approach is unlikely to change after the injury. After adding running back Kenneth Walker III in free agency, targeting a high-upside receiver like Tyson could be the next step in reshaping the offense.
Tyson began his collegiate career at Colorado Buffaloes in 2022 before transferring to Arizona State. He broke out in 2024 during the Devils’ College Football Playoff run, recording 75 receptions for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Entering 2025 as a consensus WR1 prospect, Tyson saw a slight dip in production due to a hamstring injury, finishing with 61 catches for 711 yards and eight touchdowns, totaling 158 receptions for 2,282 yards and 22 touchdowns across his four collegiate seasons. While those numbers may not jump off the page compared to some recent prospects, his skill set has kept him near the top of draft boards.
At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, Tyson offers a blend of size and agility, combining strong hands with smooth route-running ability and the quickness to create yards after the catch. If selected by Kansas City, he could quickly develop into Mahomes’ next No. 1 target.
Related: Chiefs Predicted to Make Aggressive Trade for 29-Sack Star in 2026 NFL Draft
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
