Chiefs' Chris Jones needs help: 5 DT prospects to watch after the Combine

The Kansas City Chiefs' defensive line has historically been a strong suit over the last decade or so, but this offseason, they find themselves in a peculiar situation with a few major needs up front. One of the biggest holes on the Chiefs' defense in 2025 was at defensive tackle, specifically the three-tech position next to Chris Jones, where we saw guys like Derrick Nnadi, Jerry Tillery, and Mike Pennel rotate in 2025. But that spot on the line was often targeted by power runs or left on an island in pass protection while teams doubled Chris Jones on the interior and picked apart the defense.

Jones is not getting any younger, and one of the Chiefs' top priorities this offseason will be adding help next to him on the defensive line. Unfortunately, this is not the best draft class to do so, as the range of talent at defensive tackle is thin. So if they want to add defensive line help in the draft, they'd better do it early.

Kansas City has three picks in the top 75, so where should the Chiefs be looking if they want to strengthen the interior of their defensive line this offseason?

The best of the best: Peter Woods

Arguably, the Chiefs' top target with the ninth overall pick would be Clemson superstar defensive tackle Peter Woods. Woods has slowly separated himself as the clear top defensive tackle in the 2026 draft and is consistently mocked in the top 10–15 picks. He has an incredible blend of speed, burst, and power off the line of scrimmage, and he consistently wins against both the run and the pass. That reliable "do-it-all" skill set is exactly what the Chiefs need on the defensive line next to Chris Jones.

The Chiefs' defense is structured to keep everything in the pocket and rely on the interior players to eventually win and finish plays in front of them. This style has helped make Chris Jones the player he is, but without a somewhat reliable threat next to him, the team has struggled to rush the passer. Woods would bring a breath of fresh air, along with an immediate boost that would give opposing offensive lines fits trying to keep him and Jones contained for a full four quarters.

The dominant run stuffer: Dominique Orange

Orange will be a fan favorite if he winds up in the red and gold, as he grew up in the Kansas City area before committing to Iowa State in 2021. Orange attended North Kansas High School, where he became a three-star recruit and a top-100 defensive lineman in the nation coming out of high school. At Iowa State, Orange proved himself as one of the most reliable run-stopping defensive tackles, absorbing blocks and setting up the defense for success.

With last year's addition of Omarr Norman-Lott from Tennessee, a somewhat thin but explosive defensive lineman, it may be in the Chiefs' best interest to add a player like Orange, who brings more bulk and power. Orange has only one sack in his college career, but stats are far from the best way to evaluate a defensive lineman, and on tape, he is often in the backfield disrupting the pocket with his power and length. Athletically, Orange is a gifted player, and plugging him next to Chris Jones would give the team a lethal three-man rotation on the interior for the next several years.

The super-utility lineman: Christen Miller

Miller was a draft darling entering the 2025 season, with a lot of scouts raving about his versatility and the impact he made in his career at Georgia. Over the last several years, the Bulldogs have produced defensive linemen like a factory, and Miller seemed to be just the next in line to be a top draft pick. But after he did not quite make the jump many expected this season, his stock has started to slip, with some saying he could fall into the third round. In his college career, Miller has totaled only four sacks, which may concern some, but as mentioned with Orange, the stat sheet is not where defensive line prospects tend to shine.

It is rare for a freshman to earn starting time at Georgia, especially on the defensive line, but Miller did just that, proving he was capable of being an SEC starter from day one. In 2024, he took on an even bigger role and proved to be even more valuable, lining up in several different spots from a 0-tech nose tackle all the way to a 5-tech defensive end. This year, Miller looked similar to how he did last season, and scouts were disappointed he did not make the leap many had hoped for. For a Kansas City defense that loves versatility, Miller would make a lot of sense.

The Veteran: DeMonte Capehart

Capehart is a seasoned vet on the Clemson defensive line and has just completed his sixth year with the team, where he has been a leader. The 23-year-old Capehart (who turns 24 in July) is one of the more reliable players in the class but will be tagged as an older prospect whom scouts are concerned does not have much room to grow in the NFL. But for the Chiefs, a team that just missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade and is in win-now mode, a player like Capehart, who will enter the NFL ready to play, could be appealing.

Capehart is the perfect complementary piece, and during his time at Clemson, he has played alongside some elite defensive linemen, including Peter Woods, Bryan Bresee, Myles Murphy, KJ Henry, and TJ Parker. Across the nation, Capehart has a reputation as a leader and a do-it-all player who does whatever it takes for his team to win. There are some off-field concerns, including a weapons charge and a traffic violation that resulted in suspension. If the Chiefs do not get the defensive tackle they want early, Capehart could be the perfect depth option on day three.

The outlier: Gracen Halton

There is a steep falloff outside of the top 4–5 defensive tackles in this year's class, and if Kansas City is not able to get the player they want in the first three rounds, Halton is their best bet. The biggest issue that fans and scouts will have with Halton is simply that he is undersized. He comes in at just 6'2", 295 pounds, which has raised some concern for scouts and could cause him to slip out of the top 100, but his draft stock was helped at the Combine after his eye-popping 36.5-inch vertical leap and a 4.82-second time in the 40-yard dash.

This lack of size may not bother the Chiefs. As mentioned earlier, they rely on their tackles to be versatile pass rushers while their defensive ends contain the quarterback. This is where Halton is at his best, and he has proven time and time again in the SEC that if he is left on an island, he will make offenses pay. The Chiefs may be hesitant to add another undersized lineman after taking Norman-Lott last season. But the Chiefs rely more on their linebackers to patrol the run game, and Halton is a very capable run defender himself. If he makes it out of the top 100, he would be a high-value addition for the Chiefs on day three.