Andy Reid head coach Kansas City Chiefs
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 14: Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs watches warm-ups prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The Kansas City Chiefs are candidates to make an NFL draft-day splash by trading into position for one of the three elite pass-rushers in the 2026 class.
Field Yates of ESPN in his most recent mock draft last week predicted that David Bailey and Arvell Reese will come off the board at pick Nos. 2 and 3 to the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals, respectively, leaving only Rueben Bain Jr. as the last elite edge-rusher before the prospect talent level drops to its second tier.
Yates had Bain heading to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 10 overall.
Max Loeb of Bleacher Report was a bit more generous with regards to the potential availability of Bailey in the range of pick Nos. 5 and 6 on Monday, March 16, when Loeb suggested a trade proposal involving the Chiefs and one of the two teams selecting in those spots.
“[The Chiefs] have nine picks in the draft and they are picking ninth overall,” Loeb said. “But the reality with this Chiefs team is they need an immediate impact player with their roster built to win now, and the top edge-rushers in the draft may not fall to them at nine. I could see the New York Giants or the Cleveland Browns trading down and the Kansas City Chiefs moving up to take someone like David Bailey or Rueben Bain.”
Chiefs Could to Stay Put at Pick No. 9 in Hopes of Top Edge Defender Falling, or Drafting for CB Need Instead
David Bailey
GettyTexas Tech edge-rusher David Bailey.
The question Kansas City will have to ask itself after the first four picks are made on Thursday, April 23 is what are the chances the franchise can hold fast at No. 9 and still grab a top edge-rusher?
If Bailey falls to at least pick five and is still there with Bain when the Giants go on the clock, the Chiefs might feel secure in remaining at No. 9 and hoping one of the two falls. That said, Bailey’s presence at No. 5 and the Giants’ lack of need for another pass-rusher could open the floodgates on trade talk from teams further down the draft order looking to move up and nab a potentially game-changing drive wrecker.
Another factor that might keep Kansas City at No. 9 overall is how badly the team needs to add a top cornerback who can contribute immediately. Yates has no cornerbacks and just one safety, Caleb Downs of Ohio State, coming off the board before the Chiefs’ first selection, which would mean they would have first dibs on every cornerback in the class if that is the direction they choose.
Browns Could Potentially Drop 3 Spots in Trade With Chiefs, Still Land Top Draft Target
Monroe Freeling of the Georgia Bulldogs is rising, and could land with the Cleveland Browns at No. 6.
GettyOffensive tackle Monroe Freeling of the Georgia Bulldogs.
The value should be there for the Browns to hop down three spots and pick up a solid asset in return from the Chiefs, perhaps the 74th overall selection in Round 3.
Cleveland is most likely looking at adding an offensive tackle or a wide receiver with the No. 6 pick and should still be able to get an excellent player to fill either void three spots later, particularly if the Browns know that the Chiefs are moving up to draft an edge-rusher and won’t consider taking a player at another position.
Yates has wideout Carnell Tate of Ohio State coming off the board at No. 4 to the Tennessee Titans anyway, but also projected that the New Orleans Saints will take receiver Makai Lemon of USC at No. 8. If the Browns want Lemon, then trading down could be a problem.
However, Yates predicted after the opening day of free agency that the Browns will key in on offensive tackle Monroe Freeling out of Georgia with the sixth pick to complete their offensive line rebuild. In that scenario, the Browns can move down three spots, grab an extra third-round selection and still get their player of choice in Freeling at No. 9 overall.
Cleveland could then look at a pass-catcher like Jordyn Tyson of Arizona State if he falls all the way to No. 24 in Round 1 following a lingering hamstring issue, or select a player such as WR Denzel Boston who also has a first-round grade in the estimation of most national draft analysts.