Jhelum Mehta
The 2026 NFL Draft is right around the corner—just a few weeks out—and the Kansas City Chiefs are sitting on a war chest of picks we haven’t seen in the Patrick Mahomes era. We’re talking a top-10 selection, three shots in the top 40, and eight picks across the first five rounds. Translation? Brett Veach has ammo to reload this roster in a big way with young, impact talent.
Let’s be real—the defense didn’t exactly bring the heat last season. KC finished 22nd in sacks, and the pass rush just wasn’t getting home consistently. That’s gotta change. The good news? This draft class is loaded with juice off the edge and playmakers in the secondary—exactly what the Chiefs need to get that unit back to championship level and take pressure off their high-octane offense.
With that in mind, here are the two prospects ESPN’s Matt Miller has the Chiefs circling heading into draft night.
Rueben Bain Jr.
Rueben Bain Jr. is built like a wrecking ball off the edge—checking in around 6’2”–6’3”, 260–275, with a compact frame that’s all about power and pop. Across three seasons (2023–2025), he suited up for 38 games and stuffed the stat sheet: 121 total tackles, 33.5 TFLs, 20.5 sacks, plus a handful of splash plays with forced fumbles and even a pick.
But 2025? That’s when he really flipped the switch—54 tackles, 15.5 TFLs, 9.5 sacks, and a ridiculous 92.5 PFF grade that had him sitting top-three among all EDGE defenders in the country. Oh—and 67 total pressures. Dude was living in the backfield.
Turn on the tape, and it’s easy to see why he’s climbing boards. Bain’s got that explosive first step, plays with natural leverage, and wins with violent hands and a nonstop motor. He’s not your typical long, bendy pass rusher. He’s more of a power disruptor who can collapse the pocket and bully tackles. And it’s not just pass rush juice either, he’s a legit edge-setter in the run game, stays disciplined in his gaps, and shows high football IQ snapping through plays.
That’s exactly the kind of chess piece DC Steve Spagnuolo loves. The Chiefs thrive on generating pressure without dialing up constant blitzes, and Bain fits that mold perfectly. He can win outside, kick inside on passing downs, and create chaos from multiple alignments. Add in his production against top-tier competition, including big-time performances in playoff-level games. And you’re looking at a guy who’s already battle-tested.
The résumé backs it up too: ACC Defensive Player of the Year, All-American honors, Hendricks Award, and one of the highest-graded EDGE defenders in college football. If KC wants someone who can bring heat right away and toughen up that front, Bain’s got “plug-and-play disruptor” written all over him.
Aveion Terrell
Aveion Terrell is the kind of DB who just screams ‘Spags guy.’ At around 5’11”, 180–186 pounds, he’s not the biggest corner in the class—but he plays way bigger than his measurables. A three-year contributor at Clemson (39 games, 31 starts), Terrell filled up the stat sheet with 128 tackles, 30 pass breakups, 4 sacks, 3 picks, and a ridiculous 8 forced fumbles—setting a Clemson DB record. That’s not normal production for a corner… that’s chaos creation.
His 2025 tape backs it up too. He logged 46 tackles, 11 PBUs, 5 forced fumbles, and 3 sacks, while locking things down in coverage, giving up just 340 yards all year. No interceptions, sure, but don’t get it twisted, QBs weren’t testing him much. The dude was still clamping and disrupting everything thrown his way, earning All-American and First-Team All-ACC honors in the process.
And yeah—the bloodlines check out. He’s the younger brother of A. J. Terrell, and you can see that polished, technically sound game all over his film. He’s disciplined, instinctive, and coachable, which is exactly what Steve Spagnuolo looks for in his DB room.
Scheme fit? Almost too perfect. Spags loves corners who can do a little bit of everything—press, tackle, blitz, rotate inside—and Terrell checks every box. He’s lined up outside, kicked into the slot, and even comes downhill like a safety in run support. The blitz ability pops too, with 4 career sacks and legit timing off the edge.
But what really separates him is how he generates turnovers. Not just picks, he punches the ball out. Those 8 forced fumbles (including 5 in 2025, leading the ACC) are elite production and fit right into KC’s defensive identity of forcing chaos and stealing possessions.
Bottom line: this isn’t a traits-only projection. Terrell’s a battle-tested, high-IQ corner with 31 starts, big-game reps, and a playstyle that fits Kansas City like a glove. Plug him into that secondary, and you’re getting a tone-setter who tackles like a safety and plays with that dog mentality every snap.
Related: Did the KC Chiefs Just Reveal Potential Round 1 Target in 2026 NFL Draft?
