
Durant out for Game 1 vs. Lakers with knee inury
Kevin Durant will miss Game 1 against the Lakers due to a knee injury.
The Kansas City Chiefs are predicted to draft a polarizing edge rusher with the 9th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. This marks their first top-10 selection since 2017, following a disappointing season.
AFC North Scout Predicts Chiefs Draft Polarizing Edge Rusher At No. 9
The 2026 National Football League draft is right around the corner and the time for mock drafts is nearly over, but there’s still time to predict where certain prospects will end up and how it will impact other teams.
The Kansas City Chiefs will be selecting inside the top 10 for the first time since drafting star quarterback Patrick Mahomes with the 10th overall pick in 2017, a selection that has impacted the organization incredibly. The franchise gets another shot at finding an impactful player early in the draft, but it will likely be used on a defender this time around.
The Chiefs have two first-round picks, No. 9 and No. 29, after finishing 6-11 and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014 as well as trading star cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams to secure the late first-round selection.
Edge rusher should be the clear and obvious position that should be addressed in the first round, preferably with No. 9, but there are good prospect pass-rushers going in the late first and early second-round.
According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, it’s common practice in the NFL for teams to conduct their own mock drafts and assign staffers to other teams in the first round in an attempt to predict what could happen at each pick ahead of their own selection.
Miller is doing his own version of this exercise for the third year in a row, using 10 anonymous scouts around the league to predict how the first 10 picks will go. Each scout was given a team that is from a different division or conference and wasn’t allowed to make trades.
The Chiefs were assigned a scout from the American Football Conference North division, and Miller wrote that he was thrilled with how the board shook out, allowing Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. to land at No. 9.
“Bain is a powerful edge with great leverage, a great motor, and he was unstoppable in the College Football Playoffs when you're seeing the best versus the best,” the scout regarding his choice.
The Chiefs are predicted to draft a polarizing edge rusher with their 9th overall pick.
Having a top-10 pick for the first time since 2017, the Chiefs are expected to focus on selecting a defender to strengthen their roster.
The Chiefs acquired the No. 29 pick by trading star cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams.

Kevin Durant will miss Game 1 against the Lakers due to a knee injury.

Manchester United's 1-0 win over Chelsea boosts UCL hopes
Felix Rosenqvist wins pole for Long Beach IndyCar race, edging out Pato O'Ward!
Lakers face Rockets in Game 1 of 2026 NBA playoffs without key players.

Messi shines with two goals in Miami's win under new coach Hoyos!
Bron Breakker's return at WrestleMania 42 helps Gunther defeat Seth Rollins in a chaotic match.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
Bain was terrific last season, totaling 54 tackles with 9.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He added his lone career interception as well, demonstrating his ability to do it all. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Bain lately, however, as word came out that he was the driver of a fatal car accident that killed a 22-year-old passenger.
Bain was cited for careless driving and nothing else, but the negative attention certainly clouds how great of a player he is. With Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Texas Tech’s David Bailey off the board at No. 2 and No. 3, Bain is likely to be available for the Chiefs at No. 9.