Chiefs' Defense Bolstered by Latest 7-Round Mock Draft

ESPN's Matt Miller's mock draft would address key defensive needs for Kansas City.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 3:53pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting in the style of Pablo Picasso, depicting a Kansas City Chiefs defensive play broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of red, gold, and white.A deconstructed, cubist illustration captures the intensity and energy of the Kansas City Chiefs' revamped defense.Kansas City Today

In his latest 7-round mock draft, ESPN's Matt Miller has the Kansas City Chiefs addressing several defensive needs with their first four picks, including selecting Miami pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell. The Chiefs also add depth at defensive tackle and other positions later in the draft to round out their roster.

Why it matters

The Chiefs' defense struggled at times last season, ranking 22nd in the NFL in sacks. This draft class, headlined by Bain and Terrell, would significantly upgrade their pass rush and secondary, rounding the defense back into an elite unit to support the team's high-powered offense.

The details

With the 9th overall pick, Miller has the Chiefs selecting Miami pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr., who had 71 pressures and 9.5 sacks in 2025. At 29th overall, they take Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell, the younger brother of Falcons CB A.J. Terrell. In the 2nd round, they add Alabama WR Germie Bernard, and in the 3rd, they select Iowa State DT Domonique Orange to bolster the interior defensive line.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in late April.

The players

Rueben Bain Jr.

A pass rusher from the University of Miami who had 71 pressures and 9.5 sacks in 2025.

Avieon Terrell

A cornerback from Clemson University, the younger brother of Falcons CB A.J. Terrell.

Germie Bernard

A wide receiver from the University of Alabama.

Domonique Orange

A defensive tackle from Iowa State University.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The Chiefs are used to contending for Super Bowls, but they have a lot of needs at premium positions. The pass rush struggled, with only 35 sacks last season (tied 22nd in the NFL), and Kansas City has done little to upgrade the outside pass rush this offseason. Bain would immediately start opposite George Karlaftis and has the inside/outside alignment versatility that Steve Spagnuolo has typically preferred.”

— Matt Miller, ESPN Draft Analyst

“The Chiefs have a history of drafting and developing cornerbacks, just to watch them leave. This offseason, Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson departed for the Rams via trade and free agency, respectively. The McDuffie deal got Kansas City this pick, which it could use on Terrell. The younger brother of Falcons' cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. is similar to McDuffie in his ability to play inside or outside.”

— Matt Miller, ESPN Draft Analyst

What’s next

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in late April, where the Chiefs will look to address their defensive needs and continue building a championship-caliber roster.

The takeaway

This latest 7-round mock draft from ESPN's Matt Miller would significantly bolster the Kansas City Chiefs' defense, addressing key needs at pass rush, cornerback, and defensive tackle. If the Chiefs are able to land this class, it would go a long way towards rounding their defense back into an elite unit to support their high-powered offense.