Draft Buzz: Chiefs Move Up?
Rumors are swirling that the Kansas City Chiefs could trade up to the No. 3 pick in late‑April’s NFL Draft to take Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, a move that would reshuffle early first‑round plans across the league. Mock drafts also list the New Orleans Saints as potential suitors for Bailey at No. 8, and the draft itself runs April 23–25 in Pittsburgh with free concerts booked for fans. (nationaltoday.com) (nationaltoday.com) (timesonline.com) (x.com)
CBS Sports writer Tom Fornelli’s latest mock has the Chiefs executing a blockbuster trade to jump into the No. 3 slot and take Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, a simulated swap that moves Arizona’s No. 3 to Kansas City in the projection. (cbssports.com) Kansas City enters draft week with extra draft capital after trading cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams, leaving the team with two first‑round picks at No. 9 and No. 29 that could be packaged to move up. (chiefs.com) ESPN analyst Matt Miller’s seven‑round mock instead projects Bailey to the New Orleans Saints at No. 8, showing how different experts place Bailey across the early first round. (espn.com) An “edge rusher” is a defender who lines up on the outside of the defensive front to pressure the quarterback and contain outside runs, and Bailey profiles as that type of player with a 6-foot-4, ~250‑pound frame and a fast first step. (bleacherreport.com) Mock‑trade mechanics matter because moving from No. 9 to No. 3 typically requires a package of high picks; Fornelli’s scenario models Arizona trading down and Kansas City sending premium picks to jump ahead, a move enabled in part by the Chiefs’ extra first‑round capital. (cbssports.com) Scouting reports highlight Bailey’s production and traits—he led the FBS with 14.5 sacks in 2025, shows a wide array of pass‑rush moves and closure speed, but evaluators also note concerns about his ability to hold the point as a run defender and his need to add functional strength against bigger blockers. (steelersdepot.com) (bleacherreport.com) The draft runs April 23–25 in Pittsburgh, with the NFL scheduling free entertainment around the event including headline performances by Kane Brown, Wiz Khalifa and Bret Michaels as part of the league’s draft entertainment series. (nfl.com) (wpxi.com)
