When the Kansas City Chiefs
get to the weekend of the 2026 NFL Draft, there are no guarantees about when the top players of the class will be selected.If general manager Brett Veach wants to make the splash move that typically comes with a top-10 pick, he may have to be aggressive about moving up even further in the order to secure a premium player.
In a recent episode of the “NFL Stock Exchange” podcast, co-hosts Trevor Sikkema and Connor Rogers talked through a two-round mock draft that settled
at the Cleveland Browns’ sixth-overall pick when the two draft analysts started throwing out ideas for a trade-down opportunity.
“What picks do the Chiefs have?” Rogers asked. “This team should make the move… for (edge rusher) David Bailey [from Texas Tech].”
The logic in Cleveland seeking a trade down comes from the belief that, in the organization’s eyes, Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling is worth a top-10 pick, but knowing it would be too high to pick him at No. 6.
From Kansas City’s perspective, Sikkema and Rogers believe the team could miss out on either of the two edge rushers available with three picks to go until the Chiefs have a shot at No. 9.
The co-hosts agreed that Bailey’s floor to be drafted may be the Washington Commanders, with head coach Dan Quinn’s defensive style at pick No. 7, but even Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. could be gone before Kansas City’s selection in their eyes.
“Schematically, Bain is the fit,” Rogers clarified. “I’d still make that move because I would still be worried about him going in front of you. I would take him to [the New Orleans Saints] at 8.”
“So the Rich Hill chart separates nine and six by about 60-ish points,” Rogers notes. “Which is almost exactly pick 74.”
The proposed deal involves the Chiefs trading pick No. 74 to the Browns along with pick No. 9 to select Bain or Bailey at pick No. 6. That would mean Kansas City would still have three selections in the top-40 — then none until the fourth-round, 109th-overall selection this year.
With more time to consider the negotiation than the podcasters gave themselves, here’s another deal to potentially strike with Cleveland using the Rich Hill Trade Value Chart.
Another proposal
- Chiefs trade picks No. 9, No. 74, No. 148, No. 169 and No. 176 (481 points)
- Browns trade picks No. 6, No. 107 and No. 206 (481 points)
Instead of Kansas City trading away its third-round pick straight up, this scenario unloads all three picks in the fifth round as well to bring back a high selection in the fourth round and a sixth-round pick.
If the Chiefs execute the Day 1 trade up, starting hot in a quest to make the most of picks No.9, No. 29 and No. 40, the front office could feel confident in waiting until Day 3 for the rest of the class, knowing the team would have two of the first nine selections on that Saturday.
General manager Brett Veach could also consider trading future capital in this. The podcast co-hosts point out that Cleveland has a lot of current draft selections and young players, making it difficult for them to continue stockpiling rookies and first-year players.
What do you think of the Chiefs potentially trading up? Are Bain and Bailey worth it, and are there any others worth the big swing? Let us know in the comments!
