Draft Week Chaos: Smoke Screens and the Giants’ Power Play
As the Kingdom prepares for a unpredictable 2026 NFL Draft, here's an overview of the latest episode of That Football Show
With the 2026 NFL Draft just days away, the energy at KC Sports Network is hitting a fever pitch.
On the latest edition of That Football Show (watch the show above), Tucker Franklin and Matt Verderame dove deep into the chaos of draft week, sparked by a landscape-shifting trade between the Bengals and the Giants.
The guys didn’t hold back on Cincinnati’s decision to ship the No. 10 overall pick to New York for veteran Dexter Lawrence. While Lawrence is a force, the price tag—both the pick and a massive extension—for a 29-year-old defender felt like “recklessness over aggressiveness” for a Bengals team with multiple holes.
On the flip side, the Giants now hold two top-10 picks (No. 5 and No. 10), a move that Verderame believes completely alters how the board will fall for the Kansas City Chiefs.
As for the Chiefs, the smoke is everywhere. Reports suggest Andy Reid is “hellbent” on fixing the offensive line, but Verderame remains skeptical of the national narrative. While the Chiefs have needs at tackle, the duo argued that burning a top-10 pick (if they trade up from No. 9) on a lineman would be a mistake given the talent available at wide receiver and edge rusher.
Whether it’s the injury-riddled but elite talent of Jordan Tyson or a potential trade back from No. 9, the message was clear: in a draft where “nobody knows anything,” the Chiefs must prioritize impact starters over safe depth.
Top 3 Takeaways
The Giants’ New Leverage: By securing the 10th pick, the Giants can now be more aggressive at No. 5, potentially snagging a top-tier wide receiver like Carnell Tate or Jordan Tyson, which forces the teams behind them to scramble.
Draft Capital vs. Veteran Needs: The Bengals’ trade for Dexter Lawrence was slammed as a “short-sighted” move. KCSN emphasizes that for the Chiefs, keeping their top-100 capital is vital because they need multiple day-one starters, not just one expensive veteran.
The “Hole” Truth: Despite national media claims that the Chiefs have “holes everywhere,” the reality is about finding elite playmakers. Verderame argues that taking a tackle at No. 9 is bad value; the team needs a “clean prospect” who can immediately elevate the offense’s explosiveness.