The Kansas City Chiefs had a disappointing 2025 NFL season. Finishing 6-11 and third in the AFC West, the Chiefs missed the playoffs entirely for the first time in the Andy Reid/Patrick Mahomes era. Now, the Chiefs are looking to take advantage of their draft positioning in the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting with the No. 9 overall pick.
Although the spotlight has always been on Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and the offense, defensive success has been vital to Kansas City during its run under Reid. With veteran defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the Chiefs have been known for exotic blitzes and putting pressure on an offense. One way to gauge a defense’s ability to get pressure is through sack totals.
Advertisement
The Chiefs finished the year with 47 sacks, placing them outside the top 10 at No. 11. They have been reliant on veteran defensive tackle Chris Jones, 31, for pass-rush production, and pairing him with an edge rusher in the 2026 NFL Draft could help Kansas City improve its roster on the defensive side of the ball.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15), tight end Travis Kelce (87) and defensive tackle Chris Jones (95).Denny Medley-Imagn Images
(Denny Medley-Imagn Images)
One place the Chiefs could look to add a quality pass rush to their roster in the upcoming draft is with Ruben Bain Jr. He is a 6-foot-3, 275-pound edge-rusher who had an illustrious career with the Miami Hurricanes. He started as a true freshman and won the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Bain broke onto the national scene with a sensational 2025 season. Finishing with 54 tackles, 9.5 sacks, one forced fumble and even an interception, he was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus national All-American in 2025.
Advertisement
The 2026 NFL Combine has begun, and Bain has been a hot commodity. Bain has reportedly already met with many NFL teams, including the Bengals, the Titans and the Saints. The Miami star is expected to be a top draft pick in 2026. The Chiefs are also confirmed to have their eyes on the edge rusher, as they secured a meeting with the Miami star during the NFL Combine.
Bain later elaborated on his meeting with Kansas City, which he discussed during the interview portion of the combine, saying he felt confident about how it went.
“I felt like I had a real strong interview,” Bain said on his meeting with the Chiefs.
Advertisement
Pairing Bain with Jones would give the Chiefs a boost on the defensive line, and adding the Hurricanes star could potentially bring Kansas City back to prominence.
Related: Chiefs Projected To Add 1,300-Yard Running Back
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.