The Kansas City Chiefs have one more game to get through before they fully turn their attention to improving their team for the 2026 NFL season.

How things go in free agency once the new league year begins in March will inform their decisions in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, with the College Football Playoffs underway, Chiefs’ scouts will have their eyes on some of the biggest stars set to enter the NFL. Who are some of the prospects who stood out, for good reasons and bad reasons, during the College Football Playoff quarterfinals?

Here’s a look at the players who should’ve caught the attention of Chiefs GM Brett Veach this past week.

The Miami Hurricanes have a lot of players who would make sense for the Chiefs

Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.: No one helped themselves more in the CFP quarterfinals than Rueben Bain Jr., who was a human wrecking ball against the incumbent champion Ohio State Buckeyes. NFL teams seem to be concerned with his arm length, but it didn’t seem to stop him from having an impact in the biggest game of his career. He posted six pressures, including one sack, four total tackles, and two tackles for loss.

Miami EDGE Ahkeem Mesidor: A player with a reputation for practicing hard and playing even harder, Mesidor arguably had a better day than Bain at the Cotton Bowl. He recorded five total pressures, two sacks, five total tackles, and two tackles for loss with no missed tackles. If you come away with either Bain or Mesidor in the draft, you’re going to have a delighted defensive coordinator.

Miami OT Francis Mauigoa: Some teams will want to kick him inside at the next level, but he has proven all season long that he’s one of the best offensive tackle prospects in the country. Moving on from Jawaan Taylor and adding him next to Trey Smith would give the Chiefs one of the best right sides in the NFL.

Miami RB Mark Fletcher Jr.: Fletcher Jr. is known as the heart and soul of the Hurricanes’ offense, and he was just that against Ohio State, recording 21 total touches for 115 yards and one touchdown. He’s unlikely to be an early-round prospect, but he’d be a great addition to a healthy running back rotation early on Day 3.

Miami CB Keionte Scott: Quietly one of the biggest success stories on Miami this season, Scott made multiple big plays against Ohio State, including a 79-yard pick-six on a screen pass. He’s an older prospect, but Scott would be a good addition opposite Nohl Williams if K.C. changes up the cornerback room in 2026. He has some fans in Kansas City, too.

Miami QB Carson Beck: The Chiefs do need to explore backup QB options in the draft. Beck could be on their radar in late Day 2 or Day 3 because of his experience and poise in big games alone. He only went 19-of-26 for 138 yards and a touchdown against Ohio State, but he took care of the football and did just enough to win.

Ohio State is loaded on the defensive side of the ball

Ohio State S Caleb Downs: Downs showed off his stopping power in the Cotton Bowl, marking his second consecutive game with eight total tackles over five solo tackles. He is precisely the type of safety prospect that Steve Spagnuolo can get the most out of. Let him play the robber role in the middle of the field and send him downhill on creative blitzes against both the run game and the pass.

Ohio State CB David Igbinosun: Another cornerback prospect that fits the Steve Spagnuolo mold, Igbinosun is not afraid to put his shoulder pads down and get his nose dirty. He plays with physicality from the moment the ball is snapped and doesn’t back down.

Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald: An absolute force in the trenches, McDonald made a ton of splash plays against the Hurricanes. He recorded eight total tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass batted at the line of scrimmage. Put him next to a player like Chris Jones, and it immediately raises the ceiling on what your defensive line can be against the run and the pass.

Ohio State WR Carnell Tate: Tate may have actually hurt his draft stock with his performance in the Cotton Bowl, mainly because he’s left people asking themselves whether he’s actually the best receiver in this class. It doesn’t help that his teammate, Jeremiah Smith, looked substantially better than he did. I think Tate is elite, but disappearing in big games is undoubtedly a red flag.

Oregon’s top non-QB prospect raises more eyebrows with his performance

Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq: His stat line might not blow you away, but a big-time fourth-down catch underscored exactly what he brings to the table. Sadiq is a mismatch all over the football field because of his physicality and technical precision. Teams try to bracket him in the passing game, and he still manages to have an impact.

Oregon DE Matayo Uiagalelei: One of the most productive edge rushers in the country in pressure percentage, Uiagalelei had a strip sack in the Orange Bowl that was Tamba Hali-esque. Steve Spagnuolo will want to see him improve against the run game, but there are a lot of tools to work with when it comes to rushing the passer.

Oregon DT A’Mauri Washington: While he only recorded a pass deflection on the day, Washington’s impact was felt as Oregon dominated the line of scrimmage against Texas Tech. His push and power made nothing easy for the Red Raiders and contributed to their shutout win.

Chiefs shouldn’t shy away from Patrick Mahomes’ alma mater

Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey: Bailey almost singlehandedly kept hopes alive for Texas Tech with his performance, recording nine total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and two passes defended against the Oregon Ducks in the Orange Bowl. He’s clearly the best speed rusher in this draft class, but he leaves something to be desired against the run.

Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter: A true nose tackle at 6-foot-4 and 330 pounds, Hunter is precisely the type of player that demands double teams and can eat blocks for playmakers to do their thing. He’s insanely quick for his size, which is one of the reasons he recorded multiple tackles for loss in the Orange Bowl. His play is a bit reminiscent of Vince Wilfork.

Indiana has some intriguing pieces for Kansas City to explore

Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr.: A shifty route runner at 6-foot and 201 pounds, Cooper averaged 15 yards per reception and scored a touchdown in the Rose Bowl. His red-zone releases are absolutely something that should catch the attention of a Chiefs team that has struggled there in 2025.

Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt: Averaged 10 yards per reception and scored a touchdown against the Crimson Tide. He’s a body type (6-foot-2 and 210 pounds) the Chiefs don’t currently have on the roster, and one the team doesn’t typically use. If they changed their prototype, Sarratt should’ve caught some attention.

Indiana CB D’Angelo Ponds: If the Chiefs decide that they need to add a dedicated nickel corner in the 2026 NFL Draft, there are few better options than Ponds. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and reminds me a bit of Tyrann Mathieu with his playstyle.

Indiana LB Aidan Fisher: Recorded five total tackles and a fourth-down sack against Alabama in the Rose Bowl. He’s a little undersized for the NFL game at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, but plays with grit and determination that will make him a favorite among draft evaluators.

Indiana DE Mikail Kamara: He notched a sack in the Rose Bowl, but he’s someone who has impacted the Hoosiers’ season without necessarily showing up in the stat sheet. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 265 pounds, Kamara makes sense as a Mike Danna replacement for Kansas City in the mid-to-late rounds.

The Alabama Crimson Tide also has something to offer the Chiefs

Alabama WR Germie Bernard: The only player on offense who could really get things going for the Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl, Bernard recorded four receptions for 60 yards, averaging 15 yards per reception. He’s a bit of a Swiss-Army-Knife receiver, which could have some appeal for a team like Kansas City that already has a lot of mouths to feed at the position.

Alabama S Bray Hubbard: Led the team in tackles and recorded a sack against the Indiana Hoosiers. He feels like the type who can play that box safety, dime linebacker role that Steve Spagnuolo has used in the past.

Alabama LB Deontae Lawson: He started hot with a sack on the first defensive play of the game, but Lawson is another player who might have been noticed for the wrong reasons. Lawson struggled against Indiana’s running game, getting washed out of gaps and overpursuing plays. Middle linebacker might not be his calling at the next level, but I could see him finding a home outside in a 4-3.

The Georgia to Kansas City pipeline could continue in 2026

Georgia WR Zachariah Branch: If you made a Chiefs receiver in a lab, he’d look like Zachariah Branch. He’s one of the best YAC receivers in the country, but also an elite punt return specialist. He’s often used for screen passes and quick throws, but don’t mistake him for a gadget player. He has the clutch gene and toughness to boot.

Georgia TE Oscar Delp: One of the best all-around tight end prospects in this draft class. He can mix things up in the trenches as an in-line blocker. He can get open against man and zone coverages. I think that Andy Reid will get Brent Celek vibes watching him play.

Georgia OT Monroe Freeling: An easy mover at 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds, Freeling was bullying Ole Miss defenders all night long in the Sugar Bowl. He did make a big mistake, allowing a sack on fourth down after a miscommunication in the protection. However, if the Chiefs want to continue to build through the draft at offensive tackle, he feels like a good option.

Ole Miss could bring some Sugar Bowl magic to Chiefs Kingdom

Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss: Not a bad performance for his first time playing in an NFL stadium. Chambliss should be skyrocketing up draft boards after going 30-of-46 for 362 yards and two passing touchdowns against Georgia. If he’s somehow available in Round 3, I think he’ll be in consideration for Kansas City.

Ole Miss WR De’Zhaun Stribling: He had a 39-yard grab down the sideline in the first half that saw him create NFL separation at 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds. He finished the game with seven receptions for 122 yards and an average of 17.4 per catch.

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