The Kansas City Chiefs have some big holes to fill on defense after losing several key players including defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, edge-rushers Charles Omenihu and Malik Herring, linebacker Leo Chenal, cornerbacks Jaylen Watson and Joshua Wiliams, and safety Bryan Cook in free agency.
They also traded away star CB Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams as well.
Kansas City did sign some replacement players in safety Alohi Gilman, defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, and cornerback Kader Kohou, but there's glaring holes at linebacker, edge-rusher, and cornerback that still need to be addressed.
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So, it would make sense KC would target one of them with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, which is exactly what ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. believes they will do.
In his latest mock draft, Kiper has the Chiefs grabbing Miami Hurricanes (Championship-Bound Canes Gear) star edge-rusher Rueben Bain Jr.
"LSU’s Mansoor Delane and Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy have to be considerations here. But remember, the Chiefs now have two first-round picks," Kiper wrote.
"And Bain would be very tough to pass up at this spot. Despite 30⅞-inch arms that caused quite the stir at the combine, Bain is dominant off the edge. He simply finds ways to get to the QB, whether it’s with his speed, power or savviness. He had 71 pressures last season en route to 9.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss."
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The Chiefs didn't get much in terms of pass-rush productions last season outside of Chris Jones and George Karlaftis.
With Omenihu gone, Jones and Karlafits are the only returning players who recorded more than two sacks or had more than 25 pressures last season.
Kansas City was tied for the seventh-fewest sacks in the league in 2025 (35), and adding an athletic and explosive edge player like Bain could be just what the team needs to field a formidable pass-rush in 2026.
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