The Athletic’s mock draft has Chiefs bolstering coverage over pass rush

There are over three months until the 2026 NFL Draft, but with the Kansas City Chiefs’ offseason underway, it’s time to consider what draft prospects the Chiefs could select with the ninth overall pick.

On Thursday, Dane Brugler of The Athleticauthored a mock draft that featured Kansas City taking a big swing with the ninth-overall selection.

9. Kansas City Chiefs: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

There certainly is a case to be made that a wide receiver (Tate, if he’s available) or tight end (Kenyon Sadiq) could be the weapon Kansas City has been desperately missing on offense. But Downs is a difference-maker, both with his impact on the field and within the culture of the team. One could argue that he is the best safety prospect since Eric Berry, a top-10 pick of the Chiefs 16 years ago.

My takeaway

When Brugler writes, the NFL Draft community should read every word. The Athletic’s draft expert prepares all year to cover the draft as extensively and comprehensively as anyone. The proof is his annual draft guide, “The Beast,” which included over 400 thorough player profiles and rankings for nearly 2,700 prospects last year.

So it’s noteworthy that Brugler predicts the Chiefs to take a generational talent at safety rather than Miami Hurricanes’ defensive end Reuben Bain Jr., who was selected with the following pick by the Cincinnati Bengals.

For many mock drafts, Bain is off the board by the time Kansas City picks at ninth overall. Bain has proven to be one of the most dominant players in college football, proving to be a key factor on an elite Miami defense that is participating in the National Championship.

In 2025, Bain totaled 8.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss, along with an interception and a forced fumble. He has been a force at Miami since his freshman year, when he forced three fumbles along with 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

To pair Bain with star defensive tackle Chris Jones would be an exciting outcome with the ninth pick — but here, Brugler believes the Chiefs would rather draft one of the top safety prospects of the last decade.