Arrowhead Pride
With the Kansas City Chiefs eliminated from playoff contention, anticipation for the 2026 NFL Draft is beginning to build. On Saturday, three games make up most of the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff (kickoffs are in Arrowhead time)
Here are five prospects to watch during Saturday’s action:
Howell has been a riser in this class and will be a fascinating prospect to track. Howell is undersized, standing at 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 249 lbs, with arms shorter than 32 inches. There hasn’t been a defensive end drafted with sub-32-inch arms in the first round in at least fifteen years.
However, Howell’s stock has gone through the roof because of his performance this season. He combines elite twitch and bend with a deep bag of pass rush moves. Howell needs a dominant playoff run to silence some of his doubters. He won’t be a scheme fit for everyone due to his size, but teams desperately need pass rush, and Howell has all the skill and athleticism to make an impact on Sundays. He could go top 15, or somewhere later on Day 2, and it wouldn’t shock me.
— Nate Christensen
Mesidor is wrapping up his sixth season as a college football player. During that time, he played in 61 games and would have played in more if an injury hadn’t cut his junior campaign short. Mesidor amassed 30 sacks while in college, including seven sacks in 2025.
At 6 feet 3 inches tall and 280 lbs, he offers inside-outside versatility along the line and can play in both odd and even fronts. However, he is at his best when he can line up on the edge and attack the quarterback. Maybe it’s because of his experience, or maybe it’s his unrelenting tenacity, but there are moments on film where he looks like a man among boys. He has a quick first step and packs a strong punch.
While he is not the twitchiest athlete, he is nimble on his feet and can change direction without having to gear down in pursuit, which is also why he is an excellent run defender. His agility mixed with his natural strength allows him to shed blocks and collapse running lanes consistently.
While playing across from a blue-chip prospect like Rueben Bain Jr., one might be wary that Mesidor’s production is the product of teams overcompensating for Bain, but this is not the case. There were multiple instances where opponents shifted protection away from Bain to double-team Mesidor.
— Rocky Magana
Uiagalelei is going to be on the Chiefs board. He is 6 feet 5 inches tall and over 270 lbs. He plays with burst and consistently crushes the pocket with...
