Chiefs can get a closer look during 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at these 8 draft prospects who have local Kansas City ties

The Kansas City Chiefs will get a closer look at eight players who grew up in their backyard at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor
Add as preferred source on Google
© Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine is underway in Indianapolis, Indiana, from February 23rd to March 2nd.

The best of the best 2026 NFL Draft prospects will have opportunities to speak to the media, but also compete in on-field drills and testing to show off their athletic abilities in front of the NFL’s top decision-makers for all 32 teams. Workouts begin on Thursday, Feb. 26, and will be televised on NFL Network and streamable on NFL+, with live coverage, commentary, and analysis of on-field drills.

  • Thursday, Feb. 26 (3-8 p.m. ET): Defensive linemen, linebackers
  • Friday, Feb. 27 (3-8 p.m. ET): Defensive backs, tight ends
  • Saturday, Feb. 28 (1-8 p.m. ET): Quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs
  • Sunday, March 1 (1-5 p.m. ET): Offensive linemen

For the Kansas City Chiefs, the combine is an opportunity to get some up-close-and-personal time with the 319 prospects in attendance. That includes opportunities to connect with some players who grew up and began their football-playing careers in their own backyard.

Local Kansas City prospects will take center stage at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in front of the Chiefs

Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell

Howell played at Rockhurst and will likely be drafted in the top-100 picks. He is a bit undersized for Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo’s preferences at 6-foot-2 and 248 pounds, but it’s hard not to get excited about his production. In 2025, the senior finished the season with 31 total tackles, 11.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble in 13 games played. He earned 2025 All-American honors after ranking second in the SEC in sack production.

Iowa State DT Domonique Orange

Played at North Kansas City High School before making the jump to Iowa State, where he spent his entire college football career. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 325 pounds, Orange is a true run-stuffing nose tackle prospect. He’s the type of prospect who is undoubtedly going to stand out on the bench press, with his play strength showing up on tape. Over the past two seasons, he’s recorded 29 defensive stops. He’s a load to handle in one-on-one situations and holds up extremely well at the point of attack.

Wyoming TE John Michael Gyllenborg

Wyoming TE John Michael Gyllenborg played at Rockhurst, where basketball was his primary sport. He only played three games of high school football before making the jump to the next level. At 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, he’s registered 80 catches for over 1,000 yards and 7 touchdowns over the past four seasons for the Cowboys. He’s someone poised to make some money at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, as he came in at No. 54 on Bruce Feldman’s annual freaks list: “He’s hit 21.6 mph and his flying 10-yard time of 0.93 seconds is impressive, as are his 37-inch vertical and 10-8 broad jump. He squatted 500 pounds, benched 350 (up 25 pounds from last year) and cleaned 335.”

Iowa OL Beau Stephens

A student at Blue Springs High School in Blue Springs, Missouri, Stephens will be looking to build on a strong Senior Bowl week at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. At 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, Stephens is a guard prospect at the next level with experience on both the left and right side. In 2025, he allowed just four pressures all season long. He’s a really smooth athlete in space, and I expect that to be apparent during the drills and testing this week in Indianapolis.

Arizona State LB Keyshaun Elliott

Elliott attended Richmond High School in Richmond, Missouri, which is northeast of the KC Metro area. The Chiefs already got a good look at Elliott at the Senior Bowl, with Chiefs defensive quality control coach Chris Orr acting as his position coach. Elliott is listed at 6-foot-1 and 233 pounds and started all 12 regular-season games for Arizona State in 2025. He led the team with 98 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and seven sacks, earning Second-Team All-Big 12 honors.

Oregon WR Malik Benson

Benson attended Lansing High School in Lansing, Kansas, which is northwest of the KC Metro. After two years of JUCO at Hutchinson Community College, Benson was regarded as the top JUCO prospect in the nation. At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, Benson is coming off his best season of Division I football with 43 receptions, 719 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. He’s someone who has the athleticism to really impress and rise up draft boards during the combine.

Tennessee TE Miles Kitselman

Kitselman attended Lyndon High School in Lyndon, Kansas, which is southwest of Topeka. He got his start at a JUCO in Kansas before transferring to Alabama and finishing his college career with the Tennessee Vols. Kitselman recorded 26 receptions for 253 yards and two touchdowns as a senior in 2025, but he’s going to make his money as a blocker in the NFL. At 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, Kitselman is your prototype “Y” tight end with the ability to align in the backfield as a lead blocker, in-line, and occasionally in the slot.

Kansas State OL Sam Hecht

A product of Mill Valley High School in Shawnee, Kansas, Hecht was a walk-on after he wasn’t recruited out of high school. He is quietly one of the best athletes on the interior offensive line in the entire 2026 NFL draft class. He’s listed at 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, boasting the type of movement skills and abilities that might put him on the same athletic level as Chiefs C Creed Humphrey. When playing the pass, he’s strong, controlled, and has great anchor. However, Hecht is at his best when he’s asked to play on the move and out in space in the run game. He’s going to be a hot commodity for zone-heavy blocking schemes.

Related Articles