Could the Kansas City Chiefs make a splash by drafting Miami DL Rueben Bain Jr.?
By now we have a pretty good idea of the handful of players the Kansas City Chiefs could select with their No. 9 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Among them is Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., who has been mocked to the Chiefs perhaps more than any other prospect. Kansas City’s biggest remaining roster need is arguably at defensive end – particularly one who can provide consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Kansas City Chiefs Hosting Edge Rusher Rueben Bain Jr. On Top-30 Visit Thursday
According to a report from NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Bain is visiting with Kansas City on a top-30 visit Thursday.
The #Chiefs are hosting Miami edge Rueben Bain for a Top 30 visit today, source said. KC picks 9th and has done work on the top pass-rushers.
A top-30 visit is a formal meeting between a draft prospect and an NFL team at its facilities. There are no workouts, but players meet with coaches and executives to get a feel if they are a good fit for each other, while also undergoing medical evaluations.
Bain is one of the top edge rushers in this year’s draft class, and some believe he is the best. He has all the physical gifts you want in a pass rusher, and utilizes them by playing with a high motor. Last season at Miami he recorded 7.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.
The one knock on Bain is his size, specifically his short arm length. Many believe that his game is well rounded and explosive enough for that not to be an issue, but others have said there are NFL coaches who are legitimately concerned about it.
One thing to keep in mind is that Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has traditionally preferred is defensive ends to be bigger guys. The Chiefs traded Dee Ford upon Spagnuolo’s arrival to Kansas City, who was a small and quick pass rusher. When the Chiefs acquired Joshua Uche in 2024, another undersized defensive end, Spagnuolo didn’t have much use for him.
Edge defenders during Spagnuolo’s tenure in Kansas City such as Frank Clark, Alex Okafor, Carlos Dunlap, Mike Danna, and George Karlaftis are large players who utilize their strength and power. However, legendary pass rusher Gerald McCoy recently stated that he believes Bain would thrive under Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen.
“Rueben Bain will be just fine with the right coaches. The statement I made about coaches worried about it is because they don’t know how to coach it. Send him to Joe Cullen and guarantee he’ll be all-pro. BUT everybody ain’t Joe Cullen.”
Chiefs Are Doing Their Homework on All Top Edge Rusher Prospects
David Bailey, Texas Tech, Kansas City Chiefs
GettyTexas Tech pass rusher David Bailey
Bain isn’t the only top pass rushing prospect Kansas City has met with. Last week they hosted Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey, who may be selected before Bain. Bailey tied for the most sacks in Division 1 College Football during the 2025 season with 14.5.
The Chiefs also met with Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese last week. Like Bain, Reese is a smaller player who is highly athletic. It’s possible he plays as an off-ball linebacker rather than a defensive end if he winds up in a 4-3 system like Spagnuolo’s.
Nick Roesch Nick Roesch covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, with a focus on the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Los Angeles Chargers. He previously covered the Chiefs for USA TODAY Sports’ Chiefs Wire, and all 32 NFL teams for A to Z Sports. Roesch’s career in sports media spans 10 years. More about Nick Roesch
