Kansas City Chiefs to get a closer look at freak athlete who is rising on 2026 NFL Draft boards after dominant Pro Day performance
The Kansas City Chiefs are getting a closer look at Louisville DL Rene Konga, who is rising up 2026 NFL Draft boards after recording some freakish athletic marks at his Pro Day.
The Kansas City Chiefs are continuing to host prospects on pre-draft visits leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft.
We’ve reached my favorite phase of the Chiefs’ pre-draft visits. After they’ve exhausted visits with top prospects, they begin looking for hidden gems. Oftentimes, among the players who impressed during their pro day workouts. They’ll typically hold around ten of their 30 allotted visits for players with whom they didn’t get enough time during the pre-draft process. Specifically, the ones who turn some heads at their respective pro day workouts.
The Chiefs will host Louisville DT Rene Konga for a pre-draft visit, according to Sports Illustrated’s Arye Pulli. The 23-year-old got his start at Rutgers before transferring to Louisville in 2024, where he played alongside Chiefs DE Ashton Gillotte. Kansas City likely got a look at him then, but now they’re revisiting things after Konga impressed at his Pro Day.
Kansas City Chiefs to host freak athlete Rene Konga on top-30 visit ahead of 2026 NFL Draft
At a hair under 6-foot-4 and 298 pounds, Konga posted some eye-popping numbers at his Pro Day in late March. He recorded a vertical jump (37 inches) and a broad jump (122 inches). Those would’ve been the best marks at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine this year. Konga’s 1.60s 10-yard split showcased a faster get-off than quite a few receivers in this draft class. His overall athletic profile is one of the best in the class, earning a 95.4 mark in the A to Z Sports Athletic Composite.
This performance at his pro day sent shockwaves through the NFL Draft world. It prompted scouts and general managers to rewatch the tape and reevaluate. Most found that he has some flash plays littered throughout. Chiefs GM Brett Veach might watch Konga’s tape and see shades of Eagles DT Fletcher Cox.
In 23 games played at Louisville in 2024 and 2025, Konga recorded 49 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, and six passes batted. He also recorded 50 pressures in those two combined seasons. Konga could become one of the top non-combine invites to be drafted. He’s a likely Day 3 target for Kansas City and other teams that brought him in, like the Miami Dolphins.
As for the Chiefs’ needs at defensive tackle, they’ve got a few players to replace in 2026. Derrick Nnadi, Mike Pennel, and Jerry Tillery are each no longer with the team. They also have Omarr Norman-Lott coming back from an ACL injury. They signed former Patriots DT Khyiris Tonga in free agency, but they’ll need more help there for the upcoming season.