Chiefs Target Edge Rushers in Every Round of 2026 NFL Draft

Kansas City needs to address their biggest roster weakness at edge rusher through the upcoming draft.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 9:21pm

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A fractured, geometric painting in bold primary colors depicting the explosive movements and collisions of a football pass rush, with no identifiable players or teams.A cubist interpretation of the Chiefs' pass rush captures the chaotic, high-energy action as they seek to bolster their edge defense in the 2026 NFL Draft.Kansas City Today

With the 2026 NFL Draft just over a week away, the Kansas City Chiefs are looking to add impact players at the edge rusher position. The team has no clear starter opposite George Karlaftis, and lacks depth at the position. This article identifies seven different edge rushers the Chiefs could target in each round of the draft, from the first round to the seventh.

Why it matters

The Chiefs' pass rush was a weakness in 2025, and they need to find a consistent threat to pair with Karlaftis in order to pressure opposing quarterbacks and support their talented secondary. Addressing this need early and often in the draft will be crucial for the team's continued success in the Patrick Mahomes era.

The details

In the first round, the Chiefs could target Miami's Rueben Bain Jr., a powerful and athletic edge rusher despite his shorter stature. In the second, Illinois' Gabe Jacas is an intriguing option with his impressive size and athleticism. Penn State's Dani Dennis-Sutton, Florida's George Gumbs Jr., Indiana's Mikail Kamara, and LSU's Patrick Payton are other edge prospects the team could consider on Day 2 and Day 3. UCF's Nyjalik Kelly is a potential late-round flier with his length and potential.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is just 9 days away, taking place from April 24-26.
  • The Chiefs' 2022 draft class, headlined by Trent McDuffie and George Karlaftis, helped launch the team into a new era of success.

The players

Rueben Bain Jr.

A 21-year-old edge rusher from the University of Miami, standing 6'2" and 265 lbs with impressive power and athleticism despite shorter arms.

Gabe Jacas

A 21-year-old edge prospect from the University of Illinois, with a similar build to Bain at 6'3" and 260 lbs, and an outstanding Relative Athletic Score.

Dani Dennis-Sutton

A 22-year-old edge rusher from Penn State, standing nearly 6'6" and 260 lbs with elite size and athleticism.

George Gumbs Jr.

A 23-year-old edge prospect from the University of Florida, with a lean 245 lb frame at 6'4" but impressive agility.

Mikail Kamara

A 24-year-old edge rusher from Indiana, standing 6'1" and 260 lbs with a similar profile to Chiefs' 2020 5th-round pick Mike Danna.

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What’s next

The Chiefs will have the opportunity to address their edge rushing needs when the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off on April 24th.

The takeaway

The Chiefs must find impactful edge rushers in this draft to support their talented secondary and continue their recent run of success in the Patrick Mahomes era.