For the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, the Kansas City Chiefs won’t be making the playoffs. Last season’s AFC champions are disqualified from the postseason, putting them in unfamiliar territory.
Naturally, some folks’ focus has shifted to the 2026 NFL Draft. Given that the season is over regarding competing for a Super Bowl title, any remaining Kansas City loss could set them up for a more premier first-round selection.
Many fans are campaigning for a soft tank of sorts. Do the Chiefs factor draft positioning into their end-of-season planning? An emphatic answer was provided this week.
Chiefs Reveal Whether They Factor Draft Positioning Into End of Season
Speaking to the media around noon local time on Thursday, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was posed the question. His response told fans everything they need to know.
“I don’t think we will,” Spagnuolo said. “Our guys aren’t built that way. I don’t think there’s a coach or player that’s built like that. I always say this: If we had a basketball court right out here and you took any six of the guys in that locker room and said, ‘Go play three-on-three,’ they would be knocking each other over to win the game. Even if there was a dollar on the line, that’s just how they’re built. I don’t think that’ll change.”
Spagnuolo’s logic is as expected. The NFL is perhaps the most competition-driven league in sports. Players and coaches won’t strive for anything other than improvement. Even without the playoffs in sight, there are opportunities to learn things that can come in handy down the line. Spagnuolo, his staff, head coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach are all still in evaluation mode.
That includes special teams coordinator Dave Toub, too. He echoed a similar sentiment as Spagnuolo
“That’s the way it is, they’re professional,” Toub said. “They’re going to come back, and we’re going to do everything in our power to win these last three games.”
With that in mind, where do the Chiefs find themselves draft-wise? According to Tankathon, they’re currently slotted into the No. 12 spot. A three-way tie between them, the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings puts Kansas City in the middle.
It’s clear that those conducting and executing the game plans couldn’t care less about that, however.
Matt Nagy Emphasizes Need for Kansas City to Finish Strong
Don’t get it twisted: Kansas City can move up and down the board. If things broke in a favorable draft direction, they could wind up with a top-10 pick. If they win out, they’re moving down the list. It’s this writer’s take that something in the middle is far more likely. Might the Chiefs still land a blue chip type of prospect in the pick 11-15 range? It’s possible.
The remaining games must first be played. With Mahomes done for the year, it’d be easy to throw in the towel. No one plans on doing that, though, including offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. He thinks the championship culture of the Chiefs can still shine through late in the year.
“I think it’s very important for us as a staff to make sure that right now, we know we have three games left,” Nagy said. “We owe it to our players, we owe it as coaches, we owe it to the city to go out for these last three games. There’s no playoffs ahead of us, [but] we still have to work to be better. It’s our job. There’s honest communications. We talk about accountability, we talk about honesty, we talk about commitment and consistency. That’s all stuff that you want to do throughout the year and strive to be great in those times. Just for whatever reason, it hasn’t happened this year.”
According to Nagy, it’s all about focusing on the present and letting the results pay off in the future. The Chiefs will try hard to beat the Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders.
“We’re being challenged in this building right now to make sure and see who’s reacting certain ways to finish strong,” Nagy said. “From there, you’ve got to use this moment right now to come back and be better — all of us, individually — for the next year.”
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