The college all-star showcases are wrapping 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 Thursday, The Athletic authored a two-round mock draft, giving Chiefs fans a preview of the second-round possibilities in addition to those at ninth overall.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Rueben Bain Jr., edge, Miami
Miami led the nation in sacks, and Bain was an offense-wrecking machine. He frequently drew double teams, yet still finished with 9.5 sacks and 83 total pressures, according to PFF. Lined up alongside Chris Jones, Bain immediately would revitalize the Chiefs’ slumping defense.
40. Kansas City Chiefs: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
My analysis
It’s hard to argue with the sudden boost Bain would provide the Chiefs’ defense, especially the pass rush. Kansas City has stocked the defensive end position with sound, strong players who excel with discipline and execution more than talent to pressure the quarterback.
Bain has the individual tools to be a one-man wrecking crew, similar to Chris Jones. We’ve seen how unblockable Jones can be as the only real threat, so imagine two players needing prioritized attention on the Chiefs’ front.
With arguably the team’s biggest need addressed with a high-end pick, Kansas City can be flexible with the 40th pick. Here, the organization is matched with the second tight end off the board. Stowers won the Mackey Award in 2025 for college football’s best tight end and earned first-team All-SEC honors.
Stowers was originally a quarterback recruit out of Denton, Texas, and enrolled at Texas A&M as the 106th-ranked player nationally by 247sports. After two seasons as a reserve quarterback, Stowers transferred to New Mexico State and successfully transitioned to tight end. He earned honorable mention All-Conference USA in 2023, then moved on to become one of the nation’s best tight ends at Vanderbilt for two more seasons.
Over the last two seasons, Stowers has combined for 1,407 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. The selection would likely be the franchise’s best attempt to move past the potential retirement of tight end Travis Kelce. However, if Kelce were to be teamed up with Stowers, it could completely change the dynamic of the Chiefs’ offense.
Is Stowers a worthwhile pick at 40th overall? Who else would you consider for the Chiefs with such a high pick in the second round? Let us know in the comments.
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