We are in one of the most intriguing parts of the NFL Draft cycle: rumor season. These rumors center on where 2026 NFL Draft prospects might end up in just a few weeks and how teams could address major offseason needs. In this week’s NFL Draft Buzz, we highlight how the Chiefs offense could become more explosive with one move, why David Bailey is not worth a top-ten pick, and more.
Could the Chiefs move up for Love
The biggest trade of the week saw the Kansas City Chiefs send two-time All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams. In return, Kansas City received a significant haul of draft capital, including the 29th overall pick, a fifth- and sixth-round selection, and a 2027 third-round pick. The move gives the Chiefs flexibility and ammunition to be aggressive in the 2026 NFL Draft.
One player who could tempt them to move up is Jeremiyah Love of Notre Dame. According to CBS Sports, the Chiefs believe Love may not be available when they are on the clock with their first-round selection. If Kansas City views him as a priority target, they have the assets to move up a few spots, potentially packaging the pick acquired from the Rams or even a second-round selection to secure him.
JEREMIYAH LOVE 94-YARD HOUSE CALL 🔥 pic.twitter.com/orFMG0TqX6
— ESPN (@espn) November 1, 2025
The fit makes sense. Kansas City needs more explosiveness at running back. Last season, the Chiefs had just one run of more than 20 yards from their tailbacks. Love brings legitimate home-run ability, recording 23 runs of 15 or more yards this season. He also turned heads at the NFL Combine with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, the second-fastest time among running backs.
If the Chiefs want to add a dynamic playmaker who can change a game with one touch, Love fits the profile. With added draft capital in hand, moving up for him is not just realistic, it could be the type of aggressive move that keeps Kansas City firmly in the Super Bowl conversation.
Not sold on David Bailey
A player who is currently viewed as a top ten prospect by most NFL Draft analysts but only carries a late first-round grade on my board is David Bailey of Texas Tech. There is no doubt Bailey had a stellar season, earning 2025 All-American honors and finishing as Pro Football Focus’s highest-graded defensive player in the FBS.
However, there are several concerns that make it risky to take him in the top ten of the 2026 NFL Draft. The first is that he is an undersized defensive end who primarily played in a two-point stance for the Red Raiders. While he has the quickness and flexibility to be a dangerous pass rusher in the NFL, the lack of size raises concerns about how he will hold up against the run. It is hard to see him, with only average strength, consistently setting the edge. He also lacks the agility to hold up in pass coverage as an outside linebacker in a traditional four-man front.
"David Bailey is the best rusher in the draft. No doubt. But I worry about his size and toughness. If you are taking him high, you need him to play on all three downs."AFC executive, via NFL.com
This lack of strength against the run and average change-of-direction ability could limit him to being a fit for a team that runs a 3-4 defense. In that scheme, his burst off the ball and ability to turn the corner would allow him to thrive. The problem is that not many teams base out of a three-man front.
That means the team that drafts him could end up with a player who sees limited snaps, which is not worth a top-ten pick.
Can Kaytron Allen be the next “Knuckles” in Detroit?
The Detroit Lions made a notable move this week, trading running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans in exchange for fourth- and seventh-round picks along with center Juice Scruggs. While parting ways with Montgomery may raise eyebrows, the decision makes sense. His role diminished this season, logging just 158 carries, a career low, as Jahmyr Gibbs firmly established himself as the lead back in Detroit.
Still, Montgomery’s departure leaves a clear void. He was the physical presence in the Lions’ “Sonic and Knuckles” backfield duo, the power complement to Gibbs’ explosiveness. Replacing that element will be a priority, and the 2026 NFL Draft could offer the solution, potentially with the fourth-round pick acquired from Houston.
One prospect who fits the profile is Penn State running back Kaytron Allen. A decisive, downhill runner, Allen thrives in a one-cut system and consistently finishes through contact. He forced 57 missed tackles this past season while rushing for a career-high 1,303 yards and 15 touchdowns. Beyond his physicality, Allen shows solid vision and the ability to identify and hit open lanes quickly.
Pairing Allen with Gibbs would reestablish Detroit’s balanced backfield dynamic, speed and elusiveness complemented by power and reliability. If the Lions are looking to recreate their previous formula, Allen offers a logical and cost-effective option to step into the “Knuckles” role.
Lions targeting linebacker
One area of focus for the Lions at the NFL Combine was linebacker. It is a position Detroit could address in the middle rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, especially if they move on from Alex Anzalone this offseason. Two mid-round options the team met with at the Combine are Deontae Lawson of Alabama and Jaishawn Barham of Michigan.
Lawson is coming off the best season of his career, recording a career-high 89 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, which earned him second-team All-SEC honors. He is an impressive athlete who can play sideline to sideline and is one of the more physical hitters in this linebacker class. The biggest concern with him is durability, highlighted by a torn ACL in 2024 along with other injuries.
Barham is a linebacker with a fourth-round grade who brings intriguing upside. He is a physical run defender and posted a strong 90.4 PFF run defense grade this past season. The concern is that he can be slow to react at times, particularly when it comes to positioning in pass coverage.
Center a need in Washington
An unexpected need opened up in Washington when the Commanders released starting center Tyler Biadasz. Biadasz struggled throughout much of the season, dealing with injuries and inconsistent play, and he allowed 21 pressures. Even so, the decision to move on caught some by surprise.
The Commanders enter the offseason with the fifth-most cap space in the league and are expected to explore veteran options in free agency. At the same time, they could target a developmental center in the 2026 NFL Draft, where they currently hold four Day Three selections.
One late-round prospect to watch is Kansas center Bryce Foster, whom I recently identified as my biggest sleeper at the position. Foster was not invited to the NFL Combine, but he brings legitimate power to the interior and has not allowed a sack over the past two seasons. His strength also shows up outside of football. In 2025, he competed in shot put for Kansas and earned second-team All-American honors in track and field.
Foster may not be a headline addition, but he fits the profile of a tough, physical interior lineman who could provide valuable depth and long-term upside along Washington’s offensive line.