TRADE: Chiefs expected to trade CB Trent McDuffie to Rams in exchange for the Rams first-round pick (No. 29), fifth-round pick, sixth-round pick and 2027 third-round pick. (via @RapSheet)
RBs taken in the top 10 of their draft class and their team’s postseason record with them since 2016:
Ezekial Elliot: 2-4
Leonard Fournette: 2-1
Christian McCaffrey: 0-1
Saquon Barkley: 1-1
Bijan Robinson: N/A
Ashton Jeanty: N/A
So not only have their only been 6 RBs taken in the top 10 over the last decade, their teams have a combined 5-7 postseason record with them.
Now I know folks are gonna push back on this because the Chiefs have been a perennial Super Bowl team for 7 years now. But that kinda makes my point.
The Chiefs have had unprecedented playoff success without ever coming close to having a talent like that in their backfield over that span. But even with the previous success aside, we all have to acknowledge HOW the Chiefs pulled off the last 7 seasons cannot be the way they do it now based on how the 2025 season went.
They have to land building block players for a chance at another dynastic run with Mahomes now in his 30’s. Which means they need to hit early in the draft at a position of top value and importance.
You can’t look at the last 100 top 10 picks, see that only 6 of them were RBs and literally none of them brought their franchises that drafted them postseason success THEN turnaround and tell me that going after a RB with a top 10 pick is the missing component for the Chiefs getting back to Super Bowl contention.
#SayNoToLove
it's simple.
Assuming the conditions are the same
Will you sign Breece Hall in exchange for the 9th pick?
if you say yes, you can draft Love 9th pick
#chiefskingdom
Notable WRs coached/developed by new Chiefs WRs coach Chad O’Shea
Wes Welker 2009-2012
Randy Moss 2009-2010
Julian Edelman 2009-2018
Deion Branch 2010-2012
Chad Johnson 2011
Brandon Lloyd 2012
Danny Amendola 2013-2017
Brandon LaFell 2014-2015
Chris Hogan 2016-2018
Brandin Cooks 2017
Josh Gordon 2018
DeVante Parker 2019
Odell Beckham Jr 2020-2021
Amari Cooper 2022-2024
Jerry Jeudy 2024-2025
My Top 50 Big Board: January Edition
1. IND QB Fernando Mendoza
2. OSU S Caleb Downs
3. OSU LB Sonny Styles
4. ND RB Jeremiyah Love
5. OSU LB Arvell Reese
6. MIA ED Rueben Bain Jr.
7. ASU WR Jordyn Tyson
8. MIA OT Francis Mauigoa
9. TEN CB Jermod McCoy
10. USC WR Makai Lemon
11. OSU WR Carnell Tate
12. TTU ED David Bailey
13. CLEM IDL Peter Woods
14. UTAH OT Spencer Fano
15. LSU CB Mansoor Delane
16. UTAH OT Caleb Lomu
17. ORE IOL Emmanuel Pregnon
18. ORE TE Kenyon Sadiq
19. TA&M WR KC Concepcion
20. PSU OL Olaivavega Ioane
21. AUB ED Keldric Faulk
22. UF DL Caleb Banks
23. UGA OT Monroe Freeling
24. CLEM CB Avieon Terrell
25. OSU DL Kayden McDonald
26. UW WR Denzel Boston
27. ORE S Dillon Thieneman
28. CLEM OT Blake Miller
29. TOL S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
30. SDSU CB Chris Johnson
31. TTU IDL Lee Hunter
32. ASU CB Keith Abney II
33. UGA LB CJ Allen
34. ALA QB Ty Simpson
35. CLEM ED TJ Parker
36. ARI CB Treydan Stukes
37. UGA DL Christen Miller
38. TA&M IOL Chase Bisontis
39. UCF ED Malachi Lawrence
40. MIA ED Akheem Mesidor
41. SC CB Brandon Cisse
42. ALA WR Germie Bernard
43. TA&M ED Cashius Howell
44. MSST CB Kelley Jones
45. LSU S AJ Haulcy
46. MIZ LB Josiah Trotter
47. ALA OL Kadyn Proctor
48. CLEM WR Antonio Williams
49. IND WR Omar Cooper Jr.
50. CIN LB Jake Golday
4 of the top 5 rushing leaders this season were drafted AFTER the 1st round. There were 17 running backs that rushed for 1,000+ yards this season, 12 of them were drafted AFTER the 1st round.
3 of the top 5 sack leaders this season were drafted IN the 1st round. There were 17 pass rushers that had 10+ sacks this season, 11 of them were drafted IN the 1st round.
It’s simple.
If you want a top tier running back, there’s a great chance you can draft one after the 1st round.
If you want a top tier pass rusher, there’s a great chance you cannot draft one after the 1st round.
If getting back into Super Bowl contention is in the Chiefs plans moving forward, they cannot afford to pass up the opportunity of significantly upgrading their pass rush with the 9th overall pick.
Running Back Average Salary
Saquon Barkley: 20.6M
Christian McCaffrey: 19M
Derrick Henry: 15M
But Wide Receiver Average Salary
Ja'Marr Chase: 40.25M
Justin Jefferson: 35M
CeeDee Lamb: 34M
receiver or edge rusher on a rookie contract is a significant advantage.