The Kansas City Chiefs are navigating a shifting draft landscape following a recent development that took a promising defensive end off their radar. With the draft fast approaching, Kansas City is eyeing the No. 9 pick, but their options may have narrowed after the Cleveland Browns, holding the No. 6 pick, opted out of signing defensive end A.J. Epenesa due to a failed physical.
This decision by the Browns opens the door for them to target other defensive ends, such as David Bailey or Rueben Bain, as noted by The Athletic's Ben Standig. This move could impact the Chiefs' draft strategy, particularly as they look to bolster their defensive line.
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Standig noted, “Epenesa was expected to be part of a DE rotation opposite Myles Garrett. Seems reasonable that [David] Bailey or [Rueben] Bain could be higher on Cleveland’s board than any WR or LT.”
For the Chiefs, this means they might miss out on one or both of the top defensive ends. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. recently projected Bain as a potential pick for Kansas City, highlighting Bain’s prowess on the edge. Kiper praised Bain’s ability to disrupt the backfield, citing his 71 pressures, 9.5 sacks, and 18.5 tackles for loss last season.
Kiper also pointed out LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane and Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy as other possibilities for the Chiefs. Even if Bain isn't available at No.
9, Kansas City has a chance to strengthen their defense in other areas. While there's a slim chance Bailey or Bain could still be available, the Chiefs will need to be prepared for various scenarios to enhance their defensive lineup.