The Kansas City Chiefs have made several roster moves this offseason. And with the draft three weeks away, the Chiefs will get another chance to add some talent to the team. With two first-round picks at their disposal, Kansas City seems to be open to wheeling and dealing.
And the latest report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport shows that Kansas City could be gearing up for a trade-up. During an appearance on The Insiders, Rapoport said, "The Chiefs have visited with a couple really good pass-rushers who should go earlier than they pick, which means, at least they’re looking at the potential of moving up in the draft and taking an edge-rusher who could be potentially elite."
Chiefs Could Be Eyeing Trade Up in Round 1 for EDGE Help
And while Rapoport didn't say any names, two players should pop up in fans' minds. Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. and Texas Tech's David Bailey. Both players are considered two of the top pass rushers in this class, along with Ohio State LB Arvell Reese, who can play LB but is projected to play some edge at the next level.
Even though Kansas City had a top 30 visit with Reese, he's the favorite to be the No. 2 pick for the New York Jets. That leaves Bailey and Bain Jr. as the next best options. Rapoport also dropped that Bailey visited Kansas City this past week, indicating the team wanted to get a closer look at the player.
Bailey is a 6'3" defender with 33 3/4" arms who weighs in at 250 pounds. He has a bag of tricks when it comes to pass rush moves and has the potential to be a double-digit sack player in the NFL. Last season with the Red Raiders, Bailey led the country in sacks (14.5) along with 19.5 TFLs and 52 total tackles. In his collegiate career, he finished with 29 total sacks at Texas Tech and Stanford. The fact that he was brought in for a pre-draft visit shows that the Chiefs want to get to know him better, but there's no guarantee that he'll be on the board at No. 9.
The Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders, and New Orleans Saints are slated to pick before Kansas City, and could be landing spots for Bailey. In addition, the Dallas Cowboys have reportedly discussed a potential trade with the Arizona Cardinals, who hold the No. 3 pick, with talks focused on Bailey.
Another option Kansas City may be thinking about is Bain Jr. The biggest question mark around his has been around his arm length, which was measured at 30 7/8", and that's the third shortest measurement for an edge rusher at the combine over the last 25 years. Yet, despite those concerns, Bain Jr. is a strong and physical rusher who can set the edge with ease. He has outstanding strength, power, and bend to collapse the pocket.
During his career with the Miami Hurricanes, Bain Jr. had 121 total tackles, 33.5 TFLs, and 20.5 sacks. Despite his historically short arms, many draft experts believe he will be an impact player in the NFL. The Chiefs haven't had a top 30 visit with him, but that doesn't mean it won't change in the coming weeks.
Kansas City is clearly looking for more juice off the edge. Last season, they were tied for 28th in team sacks (35). George Karlaftis led Kansas City edge rushers in sacks (6.5), but they need more. They aren't hiding their interest either, and fans should keep an eye on either Bailey or Bain Jr. as possible trade-up options.