Arrowhead Pride
Over the two-day celebration bringing in the new year, there were four College Football Playoff quarterfinal games featuring plenty of top prospects for the Kansas City Chiefs to consider in the 2026 NFL Draft.
In case you missed it, Arrowhead Pride analyzed five college players before the first round began. Here are 5 more draft prospects to know, including what their most recent performances say about their NFL potential:
Bain has been one of the key reasons Miami is one win away from playing in the National Championship. He followed up a dominant three-sack performance against Texas A&M in the first round with one sack and multiple pressures in the Hurricanes’ upset win over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.
Bain is considered one of the best edge rushers in the class, but due to his stocky frame — listed at 6 feet 3 inches tall and 270 pounds — there are questions about how high he will be drafted in the first round.
On Wednesday night against the Buckeyes, Bain displayed a great feel for rushing with speed and power, an understanding of pass-rush angles, an ability to bend arcs and solid hand usage to beat blockers inside after the outside rush is blocked.
Bain has certainly turned up the intensity in the playoffs. With another big performance, he could be a top-five pick.
— Caleb James
Texas Tech might’ve lost to Oregon in the Orange Bowl, but it wasn’t because of the Red Raiders’ defense. The unit lived up to high expectations and held strong on most of its possessions, despite playing from opposing territory for the entire game.
David Bailey was at the center of the stifling effort; he was constantly in the backfield. He earned his first sack by using the elite bend and explosiveness that make him a highly sought-after prospect, but he’s not just a speed rusher. Bailey has a strong upper body and enough length to crush the pocket with speed-to-power.
During an impressive all-around performance, Bailey’s awareness stood out. He blew up multiple sprintouts by tracking the ball like a linebacker and deflecting it. He set the edge, but also slipped blocks to get tackles for loss.
With an impactful performance in the biggest game of his life, Bailey is looking more the part of a blue-chip player. The Chiefs should look heavily at drafting him in April.
— Nate Christensen
Tate entered the playoffs in the running to be the first offensive weapon selected. While other candidates — like Notre Dame running back Jerimiyah Love — can rest on regular-season highlights, Tate left a bad impression in his final college game.
The national audience watched the star receiver produce just 37 yards over three catches on nine targets. Some incompletions came on rushed throws due to Miami’s pressure, but Tate had difficulty getting open. His best play was a 15-yard...
