When Iowa State defensive tackle Domonique Orange pulled out of on-field drills at the NFL Scouting Combine in late February, interested teams were hoping to at least see him at some point before the 2026 NFL Draft gets underway in late April. Orange's decision is now understandable after suffering a quad strain, but according to NFL reporter Tom Pelissero, Orange will now hold a private workout on April 7. That gives the Kansas City Chiefs another chance to evaluate a prospect in whom they've shown previous interest.
The Chiefs were already interested in Orange at this year's Senior Bowl, and also spent some time with the nose tackle at the Combine. His private workout on April 7 now gives teams like Kansas City one more data point before the draft.
The fit makes sense for the Chiefs on multiple levels. Kansas City's defensive line is undergoing serious renovations this offseason, especially along the interior around Chris Jones. The goal is clearly to get him more help than he's had in years, and old vets like Derrick Nnadi, Mike Pennel, and Jerry Tillery are all gone from last year's roster. The team signed Khyiris Tonga to help fill the void, but there's still a long-term need for a true run-stuffing tackle who can help anchor the middle of Steve Spagnuolo's defense.
Domonique Orange is an interesting name to watch for the Chiefs in this year's NFL Draft class.
That's Orange's calling card. Across 50 career games at Iowa State, the man nicknamed "Big Citrus" made his living as a play-making space-eater in the trenches. He earned All-Big 12 third-team honors as a senior as the central figure in Iowa State's odd front. After relying on aging players or longshot prospects for years, the import of a difference-making nose tackle would elevate the floor significantly.
The hometown connection only sweetens the deal. Orange grew up in the Kansas City metro area as a graduate of North Kansas City High. If the Chiefs are serious about restocking the interior—and all signs suggest they are—April 7 just became a date worth circling and a potential draft story with many intriguing angles.