Scouting for the NFL Draft is basically like a high-stakes game of “Who’s Got Next?“—and the Chiefs are out here doing their homework. They’re always looking to stack their squad with straight-up ballers, and it looks like they’ve got their sights set on a defensive beast who’s been making some serious noise.

Enter Princely Umanmielen. The Chiefs just had a formal meeting with the Ole Miss edge rusher, and that’s lowkey a big deal. Translation? They’re thinking about adding some extra heat to their pass rush, and this dude might be the one to bring it. Umanmielen’s got that perfect mix of size, power, and finesse that makes QBs wanna rethink their career choices.

His journey? Straight grind. He started at Florida, where he played all 13 games in 2022 and put up 39 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Then, he hit the transfer portal and leveled up at Ole Miss in 2024, going off for 37 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and 14 TFLs. At one point, he dropped seven sacks in four games—absolute menace. PFF even gave him a 91.5 pass-rush grade, ranking him as the fifth-best edge rusher. The dude’s got that dawg in him.

With the draft coming up, Umanmielen’s stock is rising fast. The Chiefs clearly see the potential, and if they snag him, opposing offenses are in for a long season.

Locking it down: Chiefs looking to extend two defensive studs

The Chiefs are always thinking ahead, and now they’ve got their eyes on locking down two key defensive playmakers. Trent McDuffie and George Karlaftis. GM Brett Veach confirmed that contract extensions for both guys are on the to-do list. But it’ll probably happen after the NFL Draft. When asked about the timeline, he kept it real: “Yeah, that’ll be on the list of things to do. Obviously, this phase here will get you just on the pending free agents and put a free agency plan together.” Looks like, the team will be growing.

“Then I would anticipate getting through the draft and then having the summer to work with. But certainly, those are two really good players, and we’d like to get those guys done if possible. We’ll certainly have dialogue—if not before the draft, then right after.” He said.

McDuffie has been a straight-up lockdown corner since he stepped on the field. Even with a hamstring injury early in his rookie year, he bounced back like a pro. In 2023, he racked up 80 tackles (60 solo), three sacks, and five forced fumbles, earning first-team AP All-Pro honors. Oh, and here’s a fun stat—his four sacks over his first two seasons are tied for second-most by a cornerback in NFL history. Safe to say, dude’s a problem for opposing QBs.

Then there’s Karlaftis—an absolute menace on the defensive line. In just three seasons, he’s played 49 games, started 44, and stacked up 114 total tackles (63 solo) and 24.5 sacks. His ability to get after the quarterback has been huge for the Chiefs’ defense, and let’s not forget—he helped them win Super Bowl LVII as a rookie. With his motor and skill set, keeping him in KC long-term is a no-brainer.

Veach knows these two are key pieces of the Chiefs’ defense, and it’s only a matter of time before they get their well-deserved bag. Whether it happens before or after the draft, one thing’s for sure—KC wants them to stick around.