One team, and player, could make the Chiefs trade up in the 2026 NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Kansas City Chiefs have a top-10 pick. That’s a headline-grabber all by itself.
They’re slated to pick No. 9 overall heading into Thursday night’s first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Right now, ESPN’s Matt Miller projects the Chiefs to pick Rueben Bain Jr., the edge rusher out of Miami.
Miller thinks that a David Bailey (Texas Tech) slide could change those plans, though.
“They’re likely to stick and pick at No. 9 unless Bailey slips a bit,” Miller writes. “Based on multiple conversations with scouts, Bain’s sub-31-inch arm length is not a concern, despite defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo historically preferring players with long arms. Bain’s speed and power off the edge are seen as difference-making traits.”
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ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler also points out that one team — the New Orleans Saints — could also force the Chiefs into a potential trade up the board, too.
“It will be interesting to see if the Chiefs, who have worked the phones, sense the Saints would take Bain and try to maneuver,” Fowler writes. “Some people I’ve talked to think that’s at least a possibility.”
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So at least based on these two sets of reports, the two things to watch for the Chiefs are where Bailey goes, or doesn’t go, and whether the Saints have buzz around them taking an edge rusher.
Clearly, Kansas City will have more inside intel on that during the draft than the Chiefs’ fanbase will, but those are likely the factors that will explain if Kansas City does or doesn’t trade up the board.
It’s certainly a different spot for the Chiefs to be, and now they’ll just have to try and maximize it to help set up a quick rebound season.