The Kansas City Chiefs own the ninth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. While there had been some rumblings about Rueben Bain Jr. potentially falling to them at No. 9, everyone knows that anything is possible come draft night.
Bain's stock was already quite the rollercoaster due to his short arms and his stock has taken another hit recently due to a careless driving citation from 2024. That being said, there's still plenty of chatter that Bain will be a top-10 pick in next week's draft. Plenty also still think there's a solid chance that he's off the board before the Chiefs are even on the clock.
FanSided's big board of the top 50 prospects for this year's NFL Draft has Bain as the seventh best prospect, meaning that he's valued higher than where K.C. is picking.
"Bain's historically short arms and tweener build are the only big marks against him, as his tape is exemplary for a 4-3 defensive end," FanSided's scouting report on Bain reads. "Anyone who selects Bain should make him an instant starter with his hand in the dirt. A Pro Bowl as a rookie should not be ruled out due to how well his style translates."
Chiefs fans get Rueben Bain reality check before NFL Draft
There's no doubt that the Chiefs could use a player like Bain on their roster for 2026 and beyond. Their pass rush has struggled in recent years and Bain tallied 9.5 sacks last season while also racking up 15.5 tackles for loss. He'd be a great fit for Steve Spagnuolo's defense.
That doesn't mean there aren't risks when it comes to taking him though. The short arms are definitely something to be concerned about as is the citation. Andy Reid has shown that he's not afraid of taking players with character concerns though so if he and Veach think Bain can help this team get back to being a Super Bowl contender, don't be surprised if it happens.
However, fans also shouldn't be surprised if one of the other eight teams drafting ahead of Kansas City ends up taking Bain before Veach and the Chiefs even have the chance to.
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