The college all-star showcases wrapped up with the Senior Bowl this weekend, and the 2026 NFL Draft class is rounding into shape.
The NFL Scouting Combine and free agency are still to come, but that hasn’t
stopped football writers from cooking up mock drafts. On Monday morning, draft analyst Matt Miller of ESPN authored a two-round mock draft, featuring two selections for the Kansas City Chiefs at pick nine and pick 40.
9. Kansas City Chiefs
David Bailey, Edge, Texas TechThe Chiefs find themselves in unfamiliar top-10 territory, but picking this high could give them the opportunity to quickly reload and get back to their usual place atop the AFC. Kansas City has needs at several positions, namely right tackle, edge rusher and cornerback. And it could go with the highest-ranked player at those positions — which would be Bailey, who tied for the FBS lead with 14.5 sacks last season.
Although he isn’t the big-bodied defensive end Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo prefers, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Bailey has speed off the snap and the ability to chase down quarterbacks. The Chiefs had only 35 sacks as a team in 2025 (tied for 22nd in the NFL), so Bailey would give their pass rush a jolt with his agility and power.
40. Kansas City Chiefs
Kamari Ramsey, S, USCWith Bryan Cook set to hit free agency, the Chiefs have a hole at safety with no up-and-coming prospect ready to fill it. Ramsey is a ball-hawking, rangy free safety who can play in a split or single-high safety look.
My analysis
Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. is seemingly the better fit in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, given his strength and power profile, but Bailey has been one of college football’s most unstoppable pass rushers in recent seasons.
Bailey did not participate in the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl after initially accepting an invitation, but his statistics nearly speak for themselves when considering him among the top of this class. Bailey has 21.5 sacks and eight forced fumbles over the past two seasons. He played three years at Stanford before finishing off his college career with a memorable season at Texas Tech in 2025.
When Arrowhead Pride got the opportunity to speak with The Athletic’s Dane Brugler at the East-West Shrine Bowl a few weeks ago, he called Bailey “a bullet off the edge.” He also acknowledged there being questions about his run defense, but Brugler said he “has gotten better and better.”
It would be a unique pick for the defensive style of the Chiefs, but a necessary one to improve pressure and sack totals in the future.
With the Chiefs’ second-round pick, Miller inserts a playmaking safety into Spagnuolo’s defense. Over the last three seasons playing at UCLA and USC, Ramsey has 11 passes defended, 9.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles as a free safety.
In 2025, he did play more as the primary slot defender for the Trojans’ defense, showing he has some cornerback versatility as well.
How do you think Bailey would fit into the Chiefs’ defense? Should the team be this heavy on defense with the first two picks? Let us know what you think in the comments!
