Jake Golday could be long-term answer to Chiefs' linebacker turnover

If there's one position that's going under-discussed for the Chiefs' 2026 draft, it's linebacker. It sounds like Drue Tranquill was close to being cut or traded before reworking his deal. Jeffrey Bassa is essentially a special-teams-only player currently, and Nick Bolton could be cut to save cap space after this season. That's not even including what the Chiefs lost in Leo Chenal. The linebacker class is very good and might be too good for the Chiefs to pass on.

The Chiefs do have the luxury of slow-playing their linebacker development for 2026 because Bolton and Tranquill will be playing the majority of snaps. This is very important due to linebacker being one of the positions that consistently takes more time to develop. Jake Golday might not be the most pro-ready of the linebackers in the 2026 class, but his tools and versatility make him an enticing swing for a defense.

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NFL Draft Profile: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

1. Jake Golday's background
2. Jake Golday's strengths
3. Jake Golday's weaknesses
4. Jake Golday's fit with the Chiefs

Jake Golday's background

Age: 22 (on draft day)

Height: 6-4

Weight: 239 LBS.

Hands: 9 1/2 inches

Arms: 31 7/8 inches

Tape Exposure: Baylor (2025), Kansas (2025), Nebraska (2025)

Golday attended Arlington High School in Arlington, Tennessee. As a 0-star recruit coming out of high school, he committed to Central Arkansas University, where he played the first two seasons of his college career. In 2023, he entered the transfer portal as a 3-star transfer prospect via 247 Sports and committed to Cincinnati, where he played out the final two years of his college career. He finished his FBS career with 163 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, and 5 passes defended.

Jake Golday's strengths

Frame and Athleticsm

Solid size and length at the linebacker position paired with great athleticism. A 90th-percentile broad jump and 96th-percentile vertical jump have him in the 98th percentile of relative athletic score amongst linebackers.

Coverage

Asked to do more than most linebackers in coverage, he played an overhang defender role where he actually registered as a slot corner via PFF. Fluid hips with above-average speed downfield. Solid man coverage ability and savvy zone coverage as well.

Tackling

Very reliable tackler who loves to come downhill and attack. His closing speed paired with his tackling makes him an effective blitzer as well.

Jake Golday's weaknesses

Discpline

Can get caught with his eyes in the wrong place at times and bites more than you'd like to see on play action. Has some zone coverage lapses on tape as well.

Run Defense

When he triggers downhill, Golday is impressive shooting out of a cannon, but the run fits are average and he can get caught off guard at times. Struggles stacking and shedding blocks.

Role

Played a very unique role in the Cincinnati defense and will need time to transition into a more classic NFL role. Might be more of a developmental prospect than an instant impact player.

Jake Golday's fit with the Chiefs

There's lots of questions about the future of the Chiefs' linebacking corps long term. The best role for Golday might be as a low-impact role player early, something like base defense early on and then growing into a more full-time role. Ideally, he would replace Drue Tranquill next year and then possibly Nick Bolton the following year. Bolton played alongside Anthony Hitchens and Willie Gay his rookie year before becoming the full-time starter. Golday has special tools that are worth developing, but there is a need for development.

Golday is an explosive, physical linebacker with strong range, tackling reliability, and the ability to take on and shed blocks effectively. He shows fluidity in coverage with the speed to carry routes and contributes as a blitzer with an established pass-rush skill set. However, his instincts and awareness in zone coverage and run diagnosis aren't strong, leading to inconsistent positioning and reaction timing.

Round Grade: Red Chip (3rd Round Grade)

Shades of: Drew Sanders