Chiefs Draft Surprise: Elite Defense on Horizon

0:00It's March 22nd. This is Kansas News Today, driven by AI. The Kansas City Chiefs landing the ninth pick in the 2026 NFL Draft feels like a total shock. These guys have in powerhouse contenders every year since Patrick Mahomes took over as starter back in 2018. But a rough season put them in playoff jeopardy, and now they're set to draft early for the first time in ages. Mahomes tore his ACL late last year, which pretty much ended their postseason hopes and dropped them to this spot. It's a far cry from their usual dominance, highlighting how much they rely on that star quarterback staying healthy. Fans and analysts can't believe the chiefs are picking this high in the Mahomes era. It opens doors to grab elite defensive talent, especially with Chris Jones turning 32 soon and showing some signs of slowing down on the line. A recent mod draft from PFF has been taking Texas Tech Edge Russia David Bailey at number 9. He's the top pass Russia in college football with standout stats

1:00like 14 and a half sacks and a top pressure rate. Then at 29th overall, they'd snag Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods, who slipped due to a down year, but offers huge value as a big interior force. This setup could supercharge their defense without trading up, letting the board come to them in a draft full of surprises.