Going into the 2026 NFL Draft, defensive end stands out as the Kansas City Chiefs’ biggest need. The position remains thin after free agency, with George Karlaftis and Ashton Gillotte projected as starters and limited reserves with proven track records behind them.
The Chiefs need to add youth, upside, and depth. With the ninth-overall pick, the organization is well-positioned to do so. Three edge defenders consistently mocked in the top 10 are Arvell Reese from Ohio State, Rueben Bain Jr. from Miami, and David Bailey from Texas Tech.
Arvell Reese
Reese is unique because he didn’t have one position at Ohio State. He played both on and off the line of scrimmage and across multiple gaps. Teams will view Reese’s ideal position differently.
To me, Reese’s best position is defensive end, but that does come with projection. He’s never played there full-time and lacks refinement. He doesn’t have a bag of pass-rush moves that he can turn to yet because he’s never been asked to do that.
Reese’s top-5 hype is centered around his traits. His combination of speed, lateral explosiveness, and compact strength is elite and gives him a rare level of potential.
If a team drafts Reese with the thought of only having him play defensive end as a rookie, there will be some understandable growing pains. Reese should be used across gaps and as a spy to maximize his athleticism in space. If he can excel there early and slowly build up his pass-rushing repertoire, he has an All-Pro ceiling.
Rueben Bain Jr.
Bain is a polarizing prospect for many, mainly due to his outlier lack of arm length. Bain measured with 30 ⅞” arms – sixth-shortest of any defensive end since 1999. It creates skepticism about his NFL projection.
However, Bain’s length doesn’t appear to be a problem on tape. He can win through a tackle’s chest, with an inside move, or around the edge. He already has a well-developed pass-rush arsenal and pairs it with elite run defense.
Overcoming the short arms starts with his strength and power. Bain’s heavy hands allow him to control and redirect blockers, quickly gaining leverage and positioning. His compact frame actually works to his advantage, as he’s able to get underneath tackles and disrupt their balance, limiting their ability to anchor.
Bain’s balance and bend are also standout traits. He can dip his shoulder and turn the corner effectively, maintaining control through contact. His low center of gravity and agility make it difficult for tackles to stay square or push him upfield.
That forces tackles to open their hips early, which Bain exploits with a variety of counters—most notably an inside “hump” move to win back across their face. He can also convert speed to power with a bull rush or win cleanly with hand usage.
Against the run, Bain is just as impactful. He can set the edge, align inside, and hold up against double teams. Much like his pass rushing, his leverage and ability to play underneath blockers allow him to reset the line of scrimmage and consistently disrupt plays.
The lack of length might limit Bain from being a superstar, but there aren’t many guys with his combination of movement skills and power. All of his other traits are strong enough to mitigate it. His floor is high because of the run defense and power, and his movement skills give him a high ceiling.
David Bailey
Of these three players, Bailey profiles most as a traditional pass rusher. He led college football with 14.5 sacks last season, dominating the Big 12 and capping it off with an outstanding performance against Oregon in the College Football Playoff.
Bailey’s biggest strengths are his first step and relentless motor. His explosiveness allows him to disrupt plays before they fully develop, and he maintains that burst for all four quarters. Offensive tackles must be nearly perfect with their get-off—any hesitation can result in Bailey immediately blowing up the play.
He also brings a solid pass-rush arsenal, though not as deep as Bain’s. Bailey is particularly effective with inside counters, using spins and two-hand swipes to capitalize on tackles who open their hips too early.
There’s a misconception that Bailey wins with elite bend. While he isn’t stiff, he doesn’t consistently turn the corner with low pad level. It’s not a major concern; his explosiveness allows him to take wider angles and still close effectively.
Another underrated aspect of Bailey’s game is his football IQ. He has a strong understanding of blocking schemes and shows great awareness, frequently disrupting plays like sprint-outs by getting into passing lanes.
The primary concern with Bailey is his size. While he has shown flashes as a run defender, he projects as average in that area and lacks the mass to consistently convert speed to power. This could make him more matchup-dependent at the next level.
Overall, Bailey’s twitch, motor, and pass-rushing ability give him a high floor as a productive edge defender. While he may not have an All-Pro ceiling, he has the tools to be a consistent contributor, with 8–10 sacks per season being a realistic expectation.
Who should the Chiefs target at pick No. 9?
I see Bain as the top defensive end in this class, followed by Reese then Bailey. Bain should have the smoothest transition to the NFL, given his alignment versatility and ability to defend the run. Reese will need time to develop the finer details of pass rushing, while Bailey’s limitations against the run lower his overall ceiling.
Pairing Bain with George Karlaftis and Chris Jones would be a major boost for the Chiefs’ front. Bain and Karlaftis both complement an elite interior presence because they can win in multiple ways, creating constant pressure off the edge.
With those two collapsing the pocket and Jones anchoring the middle, the Chiefs could build a dominant pass rush. Bain lining up alongside Jones would be especially intriguing, given the flexibility to interchange roles and create mismatches.
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