The Kansas City Chiefs are three weeks away from making their first of two first-round selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. With the No. 9 overall selection, general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid are in a terrific spot to acquire ample talent early in the draft to increase their hopes of reaching the postseason.

As collegiate Pro Day begins to ramp down, I thought it would be a great time to share a brand-new mock draft for the Chiefs. This time, I’m designating it as a “what would I do” mock draft to showcase how I would approach each selection in the first four rounds of the draft for Kansas City. Let’s make the armchair general manager’s dream come true.

Round 1, No. 9 overall: Caleb Downs, safety, Ohio State

This is as simple as it gets for me: when the best player in the entire draft class is available for the taking, it should be a no-brainer every time. Rueben Bain Jr. and Carnell Tate were on the board here, but it was hard to ignore the gifted, transcendent talent that is Caleb Downs, who can play any role on the back seven with rare football intelligence and instincts to pair with elite athleticism. Downs makes the entire Chiefs defense better, regardless of the positional value.

Round 1, No. 29 overall (via Los Angeles Rams): Malachi Lawrence, edge rusher, UCF Knights

I argued recently that Malachi Lawrence is the man to potentially help the Chiefs with their biggest roster hole. He has the build, length, and athleticism to pair with a high-upside pass-rush bag that is arguably the best amongst all edge rushers in the NFL Draft, and has the frame to be a stout run defender down the road. This isn’t another Felix Anudike-Uzomah, as Lawrence knows how to win off the edge despite a lack of bend and the need for a better plan of attack.

Round 2, No. 40 overall: Antonio Williams, wide receiver, Clemson Tigers

For the past few weeks, I have been screaming at the top of my lungs that Williams is a Kansas City Chief. He fits exactly what the Chiefs are looking for at wide receiver without fully compromising the past requisite traits for being a potential wideout within Reid’s offense, which has been speed and more speed.

Williams is a standout route-runner with terrific nuance, paired with excellent hands and quality run-after-catch skills to make him a go-to playmaker for quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Justin Fields.

Round 3, No. 74 overall: Will Lee III, cornerback, Texas A&M Aggies

The cornerback room in Kansas City is less-than-ideal, with Kristian Fulton, Nohl Williams, and Kader Kohou as the top defenders at the position. There is a lot of hope for Williams, but I would love to see him paired with another fun press-man defender who could hear his name called within the first 100 selections. Lee fits the Chiefs defensive requisites at cornerback to a tee and would see the field often as a rookie.

Round 4, No. 109 overall: Travis Burke, offensive tackle, Memphis Tigers

Another player I have discussed for the Chiefs as a potential later-round target is Burke, a monster at right tackle who is listed at 6-foot-8, 325 pounds with an 83-inch wingspan. I want to see a mountain on the right side of the Chiefs’ offensive line alongside Trey Smith, and Burke is no major developmental talent either. He is a sneaky tackle prospect with impressive movement skills and leg drive for his size.

KSHB 41 reporter Lily O’Shea Becker covers Franklin and Douglas counties in Kansas. Share your story idea with Lily.

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In both Missouri and Kansas, efforts to prepare for possible human trafficking during World Cup events are ramping up.

World Cup spurs human trafficking awareness trainings in Missouri, Kansas

Several studies affiliated with universities across the country say there’s little to no evidence that directly links large sporting events to an increase in human trafficking, including sex trafficking.

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway sent the following statement to KSHB 41 News:

The Sexual Trauma and Abuse CARE Center in Lawrence is seeing an increased interest in its services leading up to the World Cup, according to Christina Gentry, the center’s director of community engagement.

The Algerian men’s national team will use Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence as its base camp for the 2026 World Cup, and the city is expecting an influx of visitors while Kansas City hosts six matches this summer.

The CARE Center recently hosted a free human trafficking awareness training for hospitality businesses across Lawrence.

“Hotels and the local bars have always been a part of our outreach, but this particular time of year, we’ll be hosting our World Cup, so we wanted to make sure there will be some trafficking training,” Gentry said.

Heather Shull, general manager for DoubleTree by Hilton on the north side of Lawrence, said she’s seen some bookings filled during the World Cup. She’s hoping more will be booked in the next couple of weeks.

“We’re gearing up to know that we’re going to have a lot more business,” Shull said.

Shull attended the CARE Center’s human trafficking training.

“Our business is hospitality; we’re supposed to take care of people,” she said.

Staff at the bar located inside the hotel have already undergone sexual violence prevention training with the CARE Center.

A Lawrence ordinance requires bar staff who regularly engage with patrons to attend such training sessions in order for the bar to obtain a liquor license. The ordinance was passed in 2020, and the CARE Center provides the bystander intervention training twice a month.

“It was very fascinating and very helpful,” Shull said.

Lily O’Shea Becker/KSHB

Shull says Hilton requires its employees to attend human trafficking training.

“It doesn’t say you have to solve human trafficking, but it’s like, ‘Hey, here are the signs you might see, and you know, go to a manager or law enforcement if you’re concerned,’” she said. “But then now for the World Cup, there’s been a lot more city-wide trainings.”

She said while most human trafficking actions can happen behind closed doors at hotels, there are certain things staff can pick up on at check-in or through requests visitors have for their rooms.

The spokesperson for the Lawrence, Kansas, Police Department says all of its officers will attend a human trafficking-related training in May. The department is partnering with the Justice Project in Kansas City for the training.

For Gentry, she said it’s important community members understand the CARE center’s supportive services — like its 24/7 support line — are available year-round.

This month, the CARE Center is focused on Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Lily O’Shea Becker/KSHB

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The CARE Center tied teal ribbons around trees lined along Massachusetts Street in South Park to launch the awareness month and has events planned throughout April to bring attention to the cause.

The teal ribbons in South Park include a QR code that contains information about Sexual Assault Awareness Month when scanned.

“Teal just represents an opportunity to unite the community on this issue,” Gentry said.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – MoDOT reopened the westbound lanes of I-44 in Springfield around 9 a.m. after a deadly pedestrian crash on Thursday.

Police say a pedestrian was hit and killed on I-44 near the Kansas Expressway exit around 5 a.m. Police have not identified the victim.

Emergency officials closed the interstate for about three hours. Crews exited traffic off the Kansas Expressway and the West Bypass.

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