The Kansas City Chiefs had a season to forget in 2025, with the long-time AFC champs missing the postseason for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era.
But when a horror season like that happens, you get a high draft pick, and for the Chiefs, for the first time in recent memory, they have one inside the top 10.
So it is one they can’t waste, because they aren’t expected to be as “bad” as they were last year in 2026.
We have seen several mock drafts that have the Chiefs selecting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, but for NFL.com’s Eric Edholm, he’s gone with Miami QB soul-stealer Rueben Bain Jr.
“An almost-perfect fit — style- and needs-wise — Bain would add another much-needed disruptor up front in Kansas City,” Edholm writes. “The Chiefs just couldn’t rush the passer effectively by season’s end, and Bain can help that cause.”
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Bain would help from Day 1
Much was made about the Kansas City pass rush in 2025, or a lack thereof, with Steve Spagnuolo’s unit only managing 35 for the year (ranked 23rd).
With Chris Jones (7.0) and George Karlaftis (6.0) the leading sack-getters, having Bain Jr., who is coming off a 9.5 sack season with the Hurricanes, would give the Chiefs some much-needed pass rush juice.
Of course, picking so high in the draft, the Chiefs can go a host of different ways, but defense seems the logical choice for most.
Jones isn’t getting any younger, and the Chiefs have a pass-rush need. Tick, and tick.
