Chiefs' 3-pick draft masterpiece would nab potential superstar and Travis Kelce replacement

The Kansas City Chiefs are facing a crucial 2026 NFL Draft.

Coming off a nightmare 6-11 season, the Chiefs have the No. 9 overall pick, a place they haven't been in a while. They've got to get it right.

A new Pro Football Focus article broke down how things might work out. The premise was to find each team's "ideal haul" for the first three rounds.

They gave the Chiefs three players in that scenario:

• EDGE David Bailey
• TE Eli Stowers
• RB Jonah Coleman

Bailey is the superstar pass rusher from Texas Tech. If he makes it to the Chiefs at the ninth pick, it's a chance to get one of the most exciting defensive players available.

"While taking Jeremiyah Love is tempting with the ninth overall pick, the Chiefs feel more likely to invest in the trenches," PFF writes. "After Kansas City placed 27^th in PFF pass-rush grade at edge defender in 2025, the explosive Bailey (93.8 PFF pass-rush grade) could add life next to George Karlaftis and an aging Chris Jones."

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Stowers was a star with Diego Pavia at Vanderbilt and could be the heir to Travis Kelce.

Coleman began his college career at Arizona and finished it at Washington.

"Offensively, the Chiefs still need a successor to Travis Kelce — and Stowers (85.3 PFF receiving grade) would make tremendous sense," PFF writes. "Instead of Love, Coleman could be a late-round flier that meshes in Andy Reid’s scheme. The team need is certainly there with both Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt free agents."

Many have suggested the Chiefs go after Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love with the ninth pick.

If they go Bailey, though, there are still a number of possible RBs to be drafted late, including Coleman, that could make this a quality class.

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