Loading...
Loading...

Is the 2026 NFL Draft class "meat and potatoes" or star-studded? Today, we are joined by NFL Draft expert Brett Kollmann to break down the 2026 Edge Rusher class.
We dive deep into the top defensive prospects, including Rueben Bain, Zion Young, and R Mason Thomas, while discussing the Chiefs' long-term roster strategy after the Trent McDuffie trade. If you want to know which edge rushers provide the best "pocket compression" and who the "sleepers" are in the mid-rounds, this is the episode for you!
—
📧 KCSN Chiefs Newsletter: Join 20,000+ Chiefs fans and subscribe FREE for the latest news and analysis directly to your inbox every weekday ➡️ https://www.kcsn.com/subscribe
—
The best Kansas City sports coverage in one place. Download our app now!
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kcsn/id6443568374
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kcsn&hl=en
—
Stay up to date with newsletters straight to your inbox from our lead reporter, Herbie Teope. Subscribe now for free: www.kcsn.com
FOLLOW US ON:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KCSportsNetworkChiefs
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kcsports.network/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/KCSportsNetwork
KCSN Chiefs Newsletter - www.kcsn.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Few things are as uplifting as the greatest moments in sports, and nothing brings us together
quite like Team USA at the Olympic Winter Games. From NBC Universal's iconic storytelling
to the innovative technology across Xfinity and Peacock, Comcast brings the Olympic Games home
to America, sharing every moment with millions. When Team USA steps onto the world stage,
we're not just watching. We're cheering together. This winter, we're all on the same team. Comcast,
Proud Partner of Team USA.
Coming up, the latest episode of The Draft Show, here on KC Sports Network.
Welcome back to another edition of the KCSM Draft Show, presented by Holiday Distillery,
some of our absolutely favorite partners for anything and everything we do. We are out there
every single draft season for the draft, doing live shows, so we are always happy to be involved
with anything to do with Holiday Distillery. And this week on The Draft Show, I'm excited.
Can't stop here, so that's always exciting. And secondly, I am joined by Brett Coleman.
Brett, how are you doing today, man? I'm good. I think I might be the only person in California
that also has multiple bottles of holiday. So thank you to Holiday for making these. They're delicious.
No, I'm doing wonderful. This is also the first time in my life that I've had a chief's video
and a Charter's video go live on the same day, so we'll see which one does better.
I picked out the only red hat I own for this occasion. So I'm ready to talk about that.
This is great. So you're already, you're already setting us up to, you know, maybe the chiefs
to lose to the Charters again, but it had to had videos. This is good. This is good. This time,
it'll be in our hemisphere. So yeah. All right. So yeah, we're going to talk about some ad
rushers today in the upcoming 2026 NFL draft, always an important position every single year,
especially for the chiefs. But in particular this year, because the chiefs defensive line is
getting thin across the board. But before we get to position specific, just going to ask general
thoughts on the draft class as a whole. I don't know if it's any strong week or anything like that.
Just kind of like some of your overarching thoughts on what this draft class is bringing to
the teams this year. So it's deep at certain positions, but I won't say it's star studded
at certain positions, right? It's like you can, you can get good players and potentially that
could turn into great players like they have potential. But as far as like slam dunks, we know
these guys are going to be immediate, amazing players. There might be four or five max in this
class, right? And again, everybody compares to 2027, which you always say, oh, wait till next
year, but like legitimately this year, like wait till next year, it's absurd. But I think this
is really more of a meeting potatoes type of draft like you're, you're, you're trying to get doubles
here. So you'll bring it back to the chiefs there at nine. They're kind of like past the threshold
where you're likely to get a real real star. And so I think they can weaponize
other teams desperation for things like offensive tackle and also edge, which the chiefs also
need. They can weaponize that to maybe move down a little bit, get more picks, get cheap talent,
try to get themselves out of this cap hole that they are standing precariously close to
and set themselves up for 2027, which is when I expect this team to like really come back with
the vengeance. I don't really care about 2026. 2026 is just get a couple good football players. 2027
is like, all right, now, now we're back. Yeah, we don't got to go too far down like this rabbit hole,
but the chiefs did just trade Trent McDuffy for the pick 29 in this draft and then also the big
other big return will be next year's third round pick from the Los Angeles Rams. And like just to
me, that signals right away that this was a multi year situation that they are planning on retooling
this over multiple years. So yeah, 2026 is probably not super bowl or bust for the for the first
time since 2019, 2018. It's not super bowl or bust. It's not super bowl or bust for them. So yeah,
they might enter this draft with the idea of picking up more capital for next year or something
along those lines. And we're asking you know, we talked a little bit about nine and I would agree,
it's like just pass. I even hesitate to use blue chip because this class is just even weird going
all the way up to blue chip, but like outside of that top tier of guys in this class is probably
the chiefs at nine are just outside of that. You're hoping maybe somebody that fits that false to
you at nine. What about pick 29? How do you feel about the end of the first round and this year's draft
class? Do you think that's a good spot to find talent or value? Or is that another position that
would be more beneficial to move back again and to the early second? So I think it depends on
on how aggressive they want to get with the edge class, right? So if they if they feel good about
getting an edge at nine, like maybe for some reason they think Rubin Bayon's going to be there,
which some people have issues with the arm length, some teams will, some teams won't. I don't think
he's going to get there, but let's just pretend there's a world where he does. If they're taking
Bayon at nine, they might they might want to use that 29 to go down and collect more day two picks
where they can really augment the rest of the route. Like there's going to be day two corners.
There's going to be day two linebackers. There's going to be day two edges also if they want to double
dip. The day two specific like big body outside receiver group, which is something that I've I've
wanted them to attack for a while. So like Brazl from Tennessee Ted Hersh from Georgia State.
I mean, even like Skyler Bell is really more he's not just a yak guy, but like he's got incredible
ball skills and everything like you could play him outside and I feel good about it. Like I do
think they're going to add a receiver on day two and there's a million of them in this class.
And hell, even if they want to take a slight step down from 29, go to the top of the second
round and like pray to the football gods that Jadarian price is there if they don't get a running
back in free agency. Like I think it's see what edge looks like at nine. If it's not there, take
advantage for teams wanting a defensive attack or an offensive tackle, go slightly down. Maybe
Kenyans to Deek something like that is you're get out of jail free card. 29 users, you should
chip to go back in day two and just get a volume of guys. I know they can restructure and open up
money this year. I realize that if you're looking at every single team's maximum restructure
potential, they are still bottom four in the league. Every other team can open up more money than
them. At least almost every other team can open up more money than them. So relatively speaking,
they still are outgunned financially. Like just take your medicine, get picks, get cheap talent,
treat this as the same situation as when they traded Tyreeca in the first place where they
got a bunch of cheap talent. They hit on those picks. They were immediately good to get. Like
that's what I see for this year. Yeah, and like that's I think that's definitely one avenue they
go to. I mean, Brad Beach's big thing is going into drafts without glaring holes. They don't
ever want to feel like they're backs against the wall. So like they're gonna we obviously know
they're gonna make some moves and for agency. It's just a matter of how much do they spend and
what are the links of the contracts. But I mean, you mentioned it there. I'm talking about
positions that might be good at the end of the first round. Edge came up as like a late round one,
early round two spots. It's kind of I think that's a pretty good strong spot. So let's just go
and transition over to our edge spots. I want you to give me your top tier of ed rushers. I
don't care if it's one player, 20 players. You just give me your top tier of ed rusher. The rankings,
however you want to order it, you can. But I just want to hear your top tier in this class. And
if you think any of them will be available at pick nine. So I tend to favor power rushers.
Right. Because I think pocket compression from an every down and distance standpoint pocket
compression can serve you no matter what what situation you're in. Whereas like true speed
guys or rather speed only guys like I say a Romello height from Texas Tech. If you're third and
nine, sure he can tee off. If you're third and four, he's not going to give you a whole lot. Unless
like you're getting him free on like a stunt or something like that. But you know, if quarterbacks
can live in quick game, it means that their drop depth is going to be shorter. The ball is going
to be out quicker. Like you really need pocket compressors to affect a quarterback in that in
that situation. So I look at guys like Ruben Bane. You know, arm length be damned. He wins with power.
TJ Parker is a favorite of mine. I'm a huge TJ Parker guy. I know a lot of people would
would be mowing that pick at nine. But that's about the range that I start with him. Because he's got
a hell of a long arm. He can compress the pocket. Andy is a pretty good first step. Like he's built
exactly how you want an edge to be built. Six, three, low two, sixties. Like he's great.
I look at Keldrick Falk, elite run defender, not all the way there's a pass rusher. But like he has
actual tools that you can build around. And again, if the goal is not to compete and not compete. But
like if the goal is we're taking 2026 as our launch pad, we can get him ready by 2027. Like
he's got the tools. He's got the coachability. He's a great dude, great in the locker room. Like I
could see that at nine. I just I love big body-powered edges that can give me more utility in more
situations than just third and nine go hunt with a dip and rip. Yeah, I mean, I'm with you, especially
that they that works out well for us. I think the chiefs are also very in line with they'd rather
have power rushers than speed rushers. It is something that they have typically avoided. So like
with your top end guys there, I think that was kind of the exact group that I think the chiefs
would put at the top circle back to Ruben Banks. I think he's going to be a hot topic of
conversation for everybody, but she's fans in particular because he's obviously a very talented
player. Arms come in. I mean, historically, well, not as bad as cash is how, but historically low
coming in under 31 inches. But when you watch him play, he doesn't I'm not going to say it never
shows up, but it doesn't show up in a way that you're like, oh, that's going to cause him to fail.
Like his answers to his lack of arm links show up on the film, the way he counters offensive
tackles who tried to jump up on the high side on him quickly. So they can use their link. He says,
okay, I will go inside. I will go under you because I'm also six foot two. And I can win the
leverage battle. I have this crazy rotational power. I see that he has answers to that. Do you think
come draft night that there is going to be enough? Will there be teams that enough teams that are
completely terrified of that arm link that he falls to pick night? I think it's a good chance.
Right. And I'm not even sure that the chiefs aren't one of those teams that disqualify him for that.
We know that Andy loves arm link when it comes to offensive line. I have to imagine he has similar
feelings about defensive line, right? Nope. It's he just looks different than most other like
top tier edges in the league. It is what it is. You really have to trust the tape and trust the
analytics on this one. A lot of teams won't. So I'm not convinced that if fall can bane
or right next to each other, that they wouldn't go fall. I'm not even convinced that if
messador and bane were right next to each other, they wouldn't go messador. He is an acquired
taste. He happens to be my taste, but he is an acquired taste. And I wouldn't rule that out.
I also would say if you're looking at a lot of the most successful edges in the league,
they do what Rubin Bane does, like Jared verse does what Rubin Bane does. Michael Parsons,
he's smaller than Bane, but he wins with power. He's a thick dude. He wins with power.
Aiden Hutchinson, great power rusher. Will Anderson, great power rusher.
Daniel Hunter, devastating power rusher. It's power, power, power, power.
So if you have what he has, you can be successful in the league. I think he's one of those guys
where it's like I can't I can't see him ever being a bad football player at the NFL level.
But I do think that there's questions about sealing because of how he's built.
Yeah, and I think that's where it begins right now. See, we don't know what the
ceiling is going to be. There's going to be teams that are going to rule them out because of
that because of the arm length issue. So it's worth keeping an eye on another guy that you
had at the top of the list. No size concerns whatsoever with Keldrick Falk. I mean, we're talking
about a guy made in the lab for especially defend even front defensive lines guys that are a
little bit more old school like Steve Spegnol is that like their big strong can hold the edge
and play with length play with power off the edge. But Keldrick Falk in a lot of people in the
national media seems to be a little bit more on the downside away from this top tier,
this upper tier of pass rushers. Why do you still have him kind of lurking around up there?
I do as well. I just why are you still have him lurking around that top end of that despite
just what people say is poor movement and his lack of production in Auburn.
So I didn't see poor movement skills personally.
Great. I actually think he's pretty toolsy.
And I look at guys like Keldrick Falk from the perspective of a coach,
which maybe can get me into trouble sometimes. But if I'm a coach, my goal is to get to third and
long. Like my goal is to get there in the first place. I have to earn the right to get to third and
long. And from a macro perspective, conversion rates dropped dramatically once you're past third
and six. If you're looking at third and short for third and medium versus third and long versus
third and very long, like I'm going to pick up a 25% chance of getting off the field just by
getting to that down a distance. So first and foremost, I want guys that can get me to that
down a distance. I can figure out the rest, right? Like through all of my crazy coverage rotations
and all of my, you know, crazy blitzes and everything like that, like I can I can manufacture
confusion for a quarterback. I can manufacture pass rush. I can't manufacture guys getting
up blocks and getting me to third and long. That's a big reason why they always take these big
body edges. Now, Falk moves a hell of a lot better than Tano Passano, but like that's why they
like those guys. And then historically, they've just gotten Chris Jones to third and long. It's
had Chris go hunt and it's worked. Now I don't think you can rely on Chris to do that. So they are
going to have to have another killer. Maybe it's Omar, whoever, right? But you still have to get
there and Keldrick Falk can help me get there. I'm not sure David Bailey could. I don't think
cash is how it could at least not to the same level. I beg Bermello height probably couldn't
armace and Thomas. Again, I don't think they're like horrible run defenders, but Keldrick Falk will
destroy the run Ruben Bane will destroy the run. He'll get me there and I value that.
Yeah, and like looking at purely from the cheese perspective with this too is whether guys are good
or fine or okay or great run defenders. You got to look at how teams ask them to play the run too.
There's a huge difference from going to play the run the way the Philadelphia Eagles have their
defense events play the run and what Steve Spagnolo asks, right? Like these guys have to not only
never get blocked by a tight end, but they got to play through the tackle and they're really expected
to play almost a gap and half. They got to get to that big B gap on the interior a lot because
Chris Jones is not going to be holding gap assignments all the time. These defensive ends need to
be able to play through a tackle and get to the B gap. I don't care necessarily about the
improvement for run game for undersized guys. It's really hard if you're 250 pounds to battle
through a 320 pound offensive tackles chest and get to the B gap, but I know who can.
Ruben Bailey talked about Keldrick Falk, TJ Parker. These guys that you have at the top of your
list, kind of why I have them up there too is they have that early down flexibility to work in
any system, not just team specific places that is going to ask for them to just kind of contain
outside runs. Maybe you tackle the running back on the way to the quarterback and we'll live with
that. So I'm with you with Falk. I like the movement. I think he plays on early down. So I like
all three of those guys. We didn't talk about TJ Parker. So I'll let you go one more time. You know,
what is what is the main reason that TJ Parker separates himself from the next tier that we're
going to talk about here in a minute? So there is something to be said for being able to play
through a tackle, you know, not just with length, but also with power and weaponizing that length.
Like his one arm stab is just vicious. And Chris Robby, you know, he's been around the NFL,
a great pastor's coach. He's worked with him in the last two years at Clemson. Like Parker got
offers for more money and could have left Clemson. But he's like, no, Rob has developed me,
developing me for the league. Right. And when I talked to him at the combine, like he emphasized
that, he's like, he's developing me for an NFL, like I will make my money back on the back end.
I'm not leaving Clemson. He's going to get me ready. And so he developed a power skill set over
the last two years at Clemson. And you know, the overall Clemson defense, like, yeah, they had a
down year. They had to move Peter Woods into more of a nose role because they didn't have any
bills that could do it. So Peter Woods kind of took one for the team there. You know, Parker didn't
have as many like quality passwords opportunities. So his numbers dip, but like, he's got the skill set
that you want where he can play through a tackles chest. And he can make a quarterback uncomfortable
with stepping up. Right. That's that's really the point I'm getting to here is if you're hitting speed
rush, speed rush, speed rush inside counter, inside counter, inside counter, the quarterback,
especially guys like say Caleb Williams, you watch how Caleb Williams manipulates the pocket
or even my home's how they manipulate the pocket. If you're going a route to tackle not through them,
they can adjust their position within or even outside of the pocket to just keep their tackle
in between you and him. Right. If you are only rushing through the tackle, you basically
eliminate that choice for the quarterback. They can't manage the pocket if the tackles just coming
straight back into them. If they try to step up, you disengage and you get them there. If they step
back and try to escape, he disengage and track them down the edge. Playing through a tackle is the
only way to really keep a quarterback from protecting his own offensive lineman for giving up a sack.
That's why I think pocket compression is so key. It takes away a scaplains and it really shortens
the clock more than just a pure speed rush or an inside counter, kind of guy like Ramella Hyder or
Mason or whoever. Right. So the fact that he can do that, he can eliminate a scaplains means that
quarterbacks have a harder time against him and it also feeds more sacks to his teammates.
And something that I think goes a little undersold when people talk about power rushers,
especially when we're talking about guys that maybe aren't your like your number one pass
rush or your guy, you're building the entire pass rush plan around. You got to be able to contain
a quarterback and more so they contain you've got to be a cage player like guys have these cage
assignments where you have to keep the quarterback bottled up and it's really again hard to do that
when you're 250 pounds and your best way to win is by getting up the arc. Well any good tackle
as soon as you do that is going to throw you by and now there's a massive gap here, right.
And so when Chris Jones is the spear that is leading this pass rush, you do need guys to win without
having to get eight, nine, 10 yards up field or have the ability to put their foot in the ground
and work back to the inside. If that lane starts to appear, I think you're being your fault, your
parkers all have that ability. And so maybe it's not always sacks, but you're setting up other guys
helping build that cage. It's not as sexy as having 15 sacks, but it matters when you get to
the next level and depending on what teams need to get you. So I'm with you on board these top three.
After this quick break, we'll come back in and look at the rest of this edge class.
Just a short drive from Kansas City, experience the history, the heritage, and the
bourbon at holiday distillery, tour Missouri's oldest distillery, where real Missouri bourbon is made
the old-fashioned way. Walk the grounds, taste the tradition, and take home a bottle of something special.
Make the trip, sip the story, holiday distillery, western Missouri. Book your tour at holidaydustillery.com.
Success in real estate takes more than vision. It takes the right financial partner.
When someone takes something run down and turns it into something great, that's called a
comeback story. Like Brain Group. They take distressed properties here in KC, completely rework
them, and then turn them into valuable real estate. But that kind of work needs the right bank behind
it. Enter Imprise Bank. They're not about cookie cutter loans. They saw Brain Group's vision,
backed them, and now they're making big moves in Kansas City real estate. Talk about your partner
impossible. Imprise doesn't do one size fits all financing. They invest in potential and back
growth. Visit ImpriseBank.com slash KC to learn more. Imprise Bank, member FDIC, Equal Housing
Lender. Welcome back to the KCS in Draft Show. I am joined by Brett Coleman as we are talking
about the edge position of this upcoming draft. And so far, we talked about his top kind of
tier of ed rushers. And we had Ruben Bain, Kendrick Falk, and TJ Parker in that list. So now I'm
going to ask kind of what's the next tier after that, right? And if again, if it's a bunch of
names, we can kind of run through them and talk about the guys we really want to talk about.
But give me your next tier of past rushers after those top three. So David Bailey is in that tier.
Honestly, you could argue David Bailey in the next tier up. At least you see some tools that I
think he could develop a power skill set, even if he doesn't have it right now. At least that
consists of something like he's got length. He's got size. Like I stood right next to the kid. He's
big. So he could get there. It's just he's so explosive off the ball. He hasn't really had two.
So it's going to be one of those ones where you know, kind of similar to Kendrick Falk,
like yeah, it's it's going to take a year or two, I think for him to get there. But I would say
right now Bailey, you know, in that fringe tier one, tier two for me, a keen messador.
You could also argue him in tier one, but you know, some people would say like,
ah, he's going to be 25 is a rookie. I I don't really care about that that much because I
like GM's are only planning three years in advance anyway. Like they're not planning for
ten-year windows of like all taking this guy because he's going to be with us for ten years.
Like nobody cares. Nobody's doing that anymore. Unless it's Patrick Mom's. But also another
element to the age thing with messador is, you know, a guy like like Shamar and Cincinnati.
And you could also even argue this with Kendrick Falk. If your hope is that by year three,
he's going to turn into the best version of himself. You just burned half his rookie deal.
More than half his rookie deal. Yeah. Of cheap years. And by the time he's good,
you have to pay him. So if you're taking a guy like messador who's ready to go right now,
you're getting contract value right now. So I think that's an advantage for him and why I would
easily take him, you know, on the top 20 picks. I would look at Zion Young is up there again,
bigger body guy, great dude in the room, plays the run, rushes the power, big Zion Young guy.
Armies and Thomas, you don't see power all the time. But like sometimes he, he will kind of
weaponize speed to power. But again, it's not super consistent. It's not the biggest guy.
And then Malachon Lawrence from UCF. I like him a lot.
Cash is how I just really can't figure out. Like that's fair. I was like, I like the concept.
You know, but it's like how often does that work in the like, is he a Hassan retic?
Yeah. How many Hassan retics have we had?
Yeah, he's a tricky one. No, there's a lot of stuff that should give me. We'll stick with
Hal for a second because I think some people do have him in that round one range. Other
thing, I have him quite a bit lower than that. And it's just because I don't, I'm with you. I'm
just a little uncertain how it translates to the next level. And it's not that he's super,
if you want to tell me the guy that has the most like just ability to bend the corner,
get underneath the tackle, I might be able to pull out five plays that are cash is how before
you get to somebody else because like his ability to get low, work around the edge are phenomenal.
But then you watch him rush sometimes and he kind of runs up the field laterally. Like he doesn't
run with his hips square up the field. He runs up like a side shuffle, which is cool. But I don't
know how translatable that is. We then have even shorter arms in Rubenbane. He's 250 pounds. So
it's not like he's weak. It's not like he has a head-to-weight room or anything. But you're
going to lose a lot of leverage battles. He does those short arms for him show up a lot more
frequently than they do Rubenbane. So like I just get I get confused on how he's going to translate
and wonder if he is not going to be purely a designated past pressure for a lot of teams. Like
that's why I kind of had to knock him down a little bit. I think you know who I like more than him.
And this I might end up with a higher grade on him by the end of the process fully done two
games. Joshua Joseph's from Tennessee. Oh yeah. I like I like him a lot and Derek more from Michigan too.
Both of those guys I think I might end up pushing up both for some of the names I even already
listed because again power component great first steps. Played against top competition and
whooped ass against top like Josh Joseph's got Monroe Freeling. Pretty bad. Yeah.
A couple of times right. Danny Dennis Sutton is one from Penn State. I'm still trying to figure
out like he looks stiff on tape. Then I saw him with the combine. He's like he's actually.
Is he really like recone? Yeah even just the timing. Yeah because like I went back I saw that
and I went back like I'm a kid you know I don't mean it's negatively. He rushes like he's had a
broomstick attached to his spine. Yes. You go watch him at the combine and this guy is changing
directions. He's dropping his hips and like why when you are on the football field. Did you never
move your chest? Never moved. It was the same height throughout your rush no matter what you did.
And then where did this workout come from? It's like good players still as just like I am struggling
to square his athletic testing with how he looks on film because it just doesn't match up whatsoever.
Hard to me. I wonder if it's like whoever you're you're training with for combine? Do they just
like retool how you move? Which like we've seen happen before recorder packs like I'm a rock
party between Shrine Bull and like his pro day added 10 miles per hour because you know he was
trained down Jacksonville and will he like completely told his mechanics and you know gave him an
actual NFL like is that what happened with Dennis Sutton? Because he didn't look in a month.
So I don't know. Yeah, he's a trick. I'm glad you made it. I got a couple guys I want to ask
about in that group. But you mentioned Joseph's Joshua Joseph's out of Tennessee. He's a guy
I've been on for a little bit and he came in a little bit smaller than I thought he would at the
combine because he does have a power element to his game right. He transitions his speed into power
exceptionally well. He uses his length. He plays like at the end of his hand. So you never the
the lightness doesn't show up as a past rusher as much occasionally as a run defender. But again,
he's not terrible. And that regard either is like what did you see about Joseph's game that you
kind of that you kind of like and are wondering about if you want to move him up a little bit higher?
It's it's the suddenness right is the efficiency of his first step. He doesn't have that extra
little like you know sometimes you're watching like young edge rushers where they have that that little
like tippy tap step before they get going like I really want guys where it's like I am dug in I'm
ready to go I don't have any wasted boob and I am I am getting off the ball here. And he converts
that suddenness or rather uses that suddenness to get a tackle to panic a little bit open the
shoulders a little bit early. And that's when he attacks with power. And so it's no like sometimes
power rushers do have a speed component. Sometimes speed rushers have a power component. He is a power
rusher that has a speed component. He sets up the power with speed. Yeah, no absolutely agree.
All right. So some other names here the other name here in this list that kind of wanted to ask
about a little bit here was armace and Thomas and not like not a great chiefs fit. But he was a
guy that I also really liked on film right. I like that you saw all the traditional speed stuff.
But similar to Joseph's there he's a fantastic power rusher right when he wants to put his foot in
the ground and run through your chest. Armace and Thomas had that then he goes the combine barely
clocks over 240. I honestly thought he was going to be one of the I thought he was going to be
closer to 250 just the way he played had really short arms. I wanted to did anything from the
combine change kind of how you see his fit at the next level. Does it change some teams that you
think might be interested in him or did you just think the tape might be good enough that it won't
simply matter. I love his effort as a player. And I think you know the willingness is there as a
run defender. Like he he's not afraid of it. He isn't shy away from it. You know, obviously he's
got the the burst in the bends for like your classic DPR type like like a Jacob Martin type.
The the question for me isn't willingness to put his face in the fan. It's just when you watch
these guys. And this is something that I want the folks at home to remember when you're watching
these edges. Watch how they win and ask yourself would this have any shot in hell of working against
Tristan works. Or Trent or even Laramie Tunsell. It's like does this play style have any chance
of working against even Josh Simmons. If the answer is no, they're you know that that matters
right. Because that's who they're facing every single week. You're going up against the
chargers twice a year. They got Joe Alton or Sean Slater. Do you have a serial killer at edge or not?
Right. Right. Yeah. And I think I think that's the thing. There's like there are guys in the
it. So do let me take a step back here. There's plenty of situations where a backup offensive
lineman or a bad offensive lineman will be across from you. And these same moves will work. So
it doesn't mean that our Mason Thomas would have or anybody would have no production in the NFL.
It's a matter of where you're going to start to value that right. If you're only winning one on
ones against those backup tackles or against a team's worst offensive lineman in there. Is that
now still worth that first round pick or do you need a player that is going to be able to
challenge your worst your tonsils your so on right. So like it's not so much that they can't win in
the NFL. It's just a matter of how consistent will it be. And so I agree our Mason Thomas kind of
stuff where that shows up. I guess the last guy in this list I didn't want to talk about. I
mentioned it mentioned him earlier and got a shout out the local fan base here Zion Young out of
Missouri. She's fans. I think are going to be very split on him. So I do want to get your take
because a lot of fans are going to see that he's very similar to everything they've had strong
versus the run. Not the greatest not the greatest past rusher. Pretty stiff throughout the hips.
Not going to give you a lot of the arc. But when you look at what he does on early downs. It's easy
to get excited or see why a team would be interested in him. So what is kind of like the the sales
pitch on Zion Young for any team. But in particular team that's a little worried about the past rush.
The Kendrick fall role but with less physical upside. Right. Like that's that's so it's one of those
was like, okay, if you don't get folk. If you don't get Bane. No. If you don't get Parker. You
still want a power edge. You're you're going to get him at the top around two. If I had to get
the other component to this. And this really goes for every single position.
And you know, Eugene, I luckily the NFL is gracious enough to let us down on the field during
the drills again. And one of the values of being down there is you see like, who's like the vibes guy
in every single group. Kendrick falcons on young were the two that I saw the most of just like
getting everybody going, encouraging everybody like the whole day they had like a leadership role
within the edge group that they were in. And it almost felt like they were almost like competing
with me like, no, no, this is my show. Like I'm running this group. Right. And like they were at
the front of every single line. Even if they weren't picked to do the drill, they were at the front
of every single line like clapping it up, encouraging guys like I think Zion is very clearly good for
the room. I think Kendrick is good for the room. And at the end of the day, these are co-workers.
We want to spend every day with. And if you're looking at Zion Young, a power rusher that we know
can play the run and get us a third and seven. And he's going to be awesome for the room.
You know, he's he's not going to give our PR team any more crises than they already have to deal
with consistently. And you're comparing that to like a 238 pound DPR that might know, you know,
like that's going to be a tiebreaker. It's like we're spending every day with this guy. And we
really like him. Some teams take that into account. Two extra things here is that I to pick you
back on like the leadership thing. That's that was with the word coming out of everybody that's
connected to Missouri, too. He's he's the heart and soul of that defense. He was the guy that got
them all fired up. Everybody watched the overtime against Auburn, right? He's at the coin toss and
he's telling them exactly what's going to happen. He won't shut up. The mics are picking it up. Like
maybe that's why he killed her going back and forth, by the way, because Kendrick is on that field,
too. And he's like, Oh, okay. I remember you. Yeah. Right. And so and he backed it up, right? And that's
the key thing. Now, you do there is some off field stuff. If I'm not mistaken, Zion Young was the
Michigan state player that was kind of at the center of the Michigan Michigan state tunnel stuff.
There is, I believe it's a DWI at one point in time. So there is stuff off the field that you
got to make sure you do your background checks on. I have not heard anything from anybody at Missouri,
though, there's been any kind of issue with him as a character or a person there. I would just
want to be very clear that I'm acknowledging there's all field stuff. And for the chief,
that can be a scary road to travel down at this moment in time. But there's it. Oh, is it
historically, but they're there. And then also trying to gloss over this now.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
At the senior bowl Zion Young impressed me the senior bowl because it felt like he was given
the green light down there to just the pin his ears back a little bit more. And so I thought
he showed more promise at the senior bowl than he did for Missouri. And I think at Missouri,
I talked about it earlier, there's roles that defensive lineman play. It felt like his role
was set up Damon Wilson to be the pass rusher, which is fair. I get it. Because David Wilson's
a really good pass rusher, but then he watched Zion Young at the senior bowl. And it was a little bit
less team oriented and more like, hey, can you win? And he won a little bit more. So I do think
there is maybe some hidden value, you're not hidden value, but like he might have a little more
upside as a pass rusher than showed on tape at Missouri based around how they were asking him to play
within a system that had another really good pass rusher. Yeah, you're hoping it's like Randy
Gregory at Nebraska, right? Who like didn't really get to show my mind is mine is everything else.
Oh, what a great comparison. This is on this is an actor I suppose.
Just don't Google him. Just watch him play.
All right, there is a name that we didn't mention yet that I think a lot of people put in the
edges. I think we got to get over this. People are probably screaming into their screens at this
moment in time. Are Vell Reese? Do we not have him as an edge? Did I miss you? Say him really?
Dude, you're not having as an edge. He's just he's getting it. I didn't really think about it
because he's going to be gone on. Sure, but also like Arville. I consider him his own position
and I think his best role is like Dante high tower where yeah, he's an inside linebacker,
but like the Patriots lined up Dante at edge a lot. They lined up over guards a lot. They used
high tower specifically to give them a whole wide variety of front structures to play with.
And a lot of it was just like we're getting into the same five down look. It's just you don't
know which one of those five down spots. Dante's going to be in and they had a whole bunch of
like different like one word adjustments where it's like you use this word and it changes
everybody's spot. Use this word and they keep the same spot, but they're switching roles and
like they used high tower to essentially play the same front over and over again, but like in
10 different ways. And I see Arville who was under Patricia doing a lot of that. I'm like that's
that's kind of his perfect role. Like yes, linebacker, yes, edge, yes, over guards, all of it,
all of it at the same time. I don't want it to be a dedicated edge. I want them to just be
a dedicated like horsemen of the apocalypse is the best way to describe it. Yeah. And so I get
that. I struggled to call him Justin Edge as well. I think full time edge Arville Reese is a
inferior player to let's see how else we can use him. Arville Reese, if that makes sense.
Right. I think if you leave just an edge, you're going to highlight some of the weaknesses that
have shown up. And it's not many, but you're going to highlight some of them. Um, you said, Dante,
hi, I kind of had like a Jamie Collins type player, but similar concepts. We're moving them all
over the place. Some teams might try to play them off ball a little more. Some teams are going to
let him play off the edge a little bit more, but like that, that realm of players. I just wanted
to, I wanted to touch on him because I didn't want anybody to get to the end of this and be like,
hey, guys, what in the world? You guys in it talk about him at all. So looking for tickets for
your next event tickets for less is your number one source. Save big on every purchase when
you use promo code KCSN at tickets for less.com. Big thanks to our sponsor, Better Help for
partnering with us for this important conversation about mental health. This Steve Smith here,
former NFL Y receiver and host of the 89 show on YouTube. So having a counselor and working
with Better Help, that gives you an opportunity to really start to unpack, but people don't
understand when you unpack things, you also open up a box that you're not always sure what's
inside. So I think that's why seeing a professional is extremely important. If you need someone to
open up to, visit BetterHelp. That's better, H-E-L-P dot com slash 89 to get started.
Packages by Expedia. You were made to occasionally take the hard route to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
We were made to easily bundle you a trip. Expedia made to travel. Flights
inclusive packages are at all protected. Edible Arrangeous Aferless Joy-All-Year,
with same day in next day delivery or local pickup, edible makes gifting simple,
fresh arrangements, dessert forts, and big treats for birthdays. Thank yous or just because.
Order at edible.com or your local store.
Not to brag or anything, but Arby's new 799 Meat and Three Boxes kind of a big deal.
The other guys give you just one side. We give you three sides. Not to brag. You get a meaty sandwich,
curly fries, mutts sticks, a sweet treat, and a drink all for just 799.
It's more meal for your money. More meal for your money. More meal for your money.
Where'd that come from? Arby's We have the meat.
At participating Arby's for a limited time.
Um, can I ask you a question? If he turns into Andrew Van Ginkle,
who is that enough for you? But like maybe even a better version of Andrew Van Ginkle,
is that enough for you? Okay, at pick nine, is that enough for me?
Hmm, probably not for I think I want to shoot a look. This is my chiefs brand.
I don't anticipate the chiefs picking in the top 10 for the next 10 years after this, right?
I'm not saying that's not fair, but like that's where my mindset is.
And so for that pick, I think I need a little bit more than Andrew Van Ginkle plus,
which I think is he obviously he obviously can do. I just don't know if that's enough for me
at that pick for the chiefs perspective. Now, if you're a different team that is routinely here
and you want that kind of chest piece, maybe it makes a little bit more sense.
So what are you hunting for an all pro then? Like that's like we're leaving here with something.
Yeah, I want a I want a player that is going to matter in some fashion. And when I say matter,
it's not just be a good player, but the opposing teams like, hey, we have this guy on the other side
of the field. Like we have to game plan for him. We have to acknowledge his existence a little
bit more. And I don't know if Andrew Van Ginkle has ever got to that point, right? And so you
just somebody that the other teams have to acknowledge because look at the chiefs roster.
Tell me who if you're an opposing defensive coordinator or offensive coordinator,
you're like, we got to watch out for that guy. Like you could good luck. Like good if that's if
that's the standard. Yeah. Wouldn't we just replace Shimari Connor with Caleb Downs in call
today? I set myself up for this. So here's why I'm just I'm not a safety fan or a linebacker fan.
I think sunny styles is awesome. I don't share my love. Also awesome. I have my reservations
of running back there too. It's like all those players a little lower on him. But these are all
guys in the same thing is like what happens if those guys aren't what happens if they hit their 75th
percentile of what we think they can be right now 100. They're 75th percentile. They're no longer
worth that pick. Whereas a defensive end that hits their 75th percentile probably still is like,
okay, like it's still a good player or a wide receiver or an offensive tackle or even a cornerback.
So it's just it's a balance. Sounds like you don't really have any good options then.
Yeah, it does, Brett. It's awesome to pick nine in a year where there's not nine great players.
That's the standard. That's where I'm like, I guess Spencer's motto for your new right tackle.
We replaced Jaylen Moore and he's going to love those arms.
I mean, Malino is not going to be there like, I know. No, it's it's not a it's not a great spot,
right? It's not a great spot. So yeah, we're kind of at the end of this. Like, I have it my my
general board of guys that I am very happy with his his incredibly small. There's plenty of guys
I'm fine. I'm not mad if they draft Caleb Downs or sunny side. I'm not upset. It's just not I'm not
going to leave thrilled with this being a pick in the top 10 and that's what they get. But I obviously
I would love Rubin Bayne. I think that's kind of like the highest hope the pie in the sky for
the chiefs at the at this position. Our Val Reese, I could get on board with because I do think
that you're getting a better player than like that Van Gogh area, but like that's a possibility.
I would be okay with our Val Reese in that spot. Carnell Tate, obviously, I would be cool with
I'm a big McKaylin fan and I know he's very same same for what the chiefs have. How long
are the chiefs going to have the same same? It might not be much more than another year, right?
And so you give me my number one by nothing. So you give me you give me you give me
me macaque lemon and Andy Reed's West Coast offense. I think that actually might be a pick that's
like worth worth that spot. So that's about it though. Like that's my happy list. That's my I'm
really happy with what just played out outside that. There's some stuff I'm fine with. So yeah,
not a great year for pick nine for for me and my mind is a cheese fan.
Interesting lack of Dermod McCoy.
Yeah, I like Dermod McCoy. He would go with the downs and sunny style spot and it's not the
position value. I just I want to go see him move again and it sounds like it's more his agent that
has kept him from doing more stuff more so than his own decision. So I'm not upset with that
because I do think McCoy is a very very talented corner. He's like for me, I've said this. He's
like a half tier below what Derek Stingley is. So not quite that good as a prospect, but a half
tier below. So he's exceptional. I just want to see him move and I don't like the process of
trading in all pro corner to chase one. But McCoy is probably good enough that I'm not too worried
about that. If that makes sense. Yeah. Yeah. I think it's one of those this team was up against the
wall. They had no other choice. Yeah, they're rebuilding. They needed they need draft capital. Look
at again, look at the roster. They have holes everywhere. They need more resources and like
Tremac Delphi's great, but they needed the resources. I got one last question for you to circle
us back to edge one last time because I have to ask this one, give me one player later in the draft
that you would plant your flag on and say this guy is going to be better than his draft position
tells you he's going to be. Oh, that's a good one. Yeah, I got to give you a chance to get
it. Get the receipts out there somewhere so that when he's good in four years, we can dig it back
up for you. So I got two. They're different types of players. And Tommy Tucker from Western Michigan.
Again, if you're looking for a smaller, more fluid, you know, DPR type, which I'm a sucker for
that like the fourth round. I'm always trying to find like the next shack. Right. It's like you
give me the smaller Bendy DPR. But if you want more of a big body guy like Tyreek Sap from Florida,
I like him a lot as well. Yeah. Gonna get him the mid rounds, get down eater rotational player,
can trust him on all three downs. You know, is he ever going to be like the most dynamic guy,
probably not, but like he's going to be a player. He's going to be in the rotation. And you're
going to get a lot of snaps from him for dirt cheap. And they're going to be quality staff.
Yeah. No, I really like the sap. I mean, I get to go back to Tucker and circle back one more time.
But he does flash a little bit with like that speed nap. But isn't but sap is a guy definitely
have a pretty solid grade on just because yeah, he's he's going to eat volume. Right. And at some
point in time, guys that eat volume, you're going to remember those names and those guys usually do
outperform where they get drafted. So love both those names. Thank you as always for jumping on
here and joining me. Anywhere you want to send people that don't already listen to you to come
find you and check out everything that you do. Yeah. Over on our podcast channel, the bootleg football
podcast, we're doing kind of a limited run series with the boys from NFL Stock Exchange, Trevor
Trevor and Connor from NFL. And it's called the blue chip committee and we're kind of exploring
different high level draft topics. The one that's dropping this week is drafting for need versus
BPA. So it kind of reflects a lot of what we talked about today. What's the best way to go? What's
like the hierarchy of need for this BPA? And then we talked about a few players from Combine Week
that we we thought popped. Awesome was always thank you Brett for jumping on here with me. Thank you
holiday distillery for sponsoring this show and being partners with us. We appreciate you guys all
for listening to the KCS and draft show and we will be back next week with our interview series
coming from the interviews did at the Shrine Bowl and then another draft show covering a
different position next week. So we'll see that that's going to be thank you guys.
Jimmy Johns is bringing big Greek energy and your taste buds are about to feel it.
Meet the new Greek and chicken heroes packed with juicy season meats and cool crisp veggies all
wrapped in warm soft pita. We're a crave worthy bite. Feeling classic? Go Greek. Want to mix it up?
Try the chicken hero. Either way your lunch just leveled up. Order online at jimmyjohns.com
or on the app today. Oh that's good. And participating locations for a limited time while supplies
last trademark and copyright 2026. Jimmy Johns franchise or SPV LLC
KC Sports Network: Kansas City Chiefs Podcasts



