Chiefs Take Missouri Pass Rusher Late in First Round
Here we are again, watching the Kansas City Chiefs continue to build their dynasty while most of us are still trying to figure out what sustainable success looks like. In the latest installment of Pride of Detroit’s Community Mock Draft, the Chiefs are back on the clock at pick 29, and they’ve got their sights set on the defensive line.
Earlier in this mock draft, the Chiefs grabbed Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the ninth overall pick. Now they’re looking to add some teeth to their pass rush, because apparently having Patrick Mahomes isn’t enough. They need a defense too.
The Pick: Zion Young, Defensive End
With the 29th pick, the Chiefs select Zion Young, defensive end out of Missouri. And yes, I know what you’re thinking. Missouri. The same Missouri that’s been a thorn in the side of every Big 12 and SEC team they’ve faced.
The pick comes with some baggage, because of course it does. Young has had a couple of off-field incidents that would make any front office pause. There was a misdemeanor assault charge from the infamous tunnel fight with Michigan when he was a freshman at Michigan State. Then there’s a DWI arrest from December 2025 that’s still pending.
But here’s the thing about the Chiefs. They’ve gotten really good at finding talent that other teams might pass on due to character concerns. It’s almost like they have some kind of system in place or something.
The Production Numbers
Young’s career numbers aren’t going to blow anyone away. In four years split between Michigan State and Missouri, he managed just 11.5 sacks total. That’s not exactly Aidan Hutchinson territory.
But dig a little deeper and you’ll find something more interesting. In 2025 alone, Young accounted for 6.5 of those career sacks. He also racked up 16.5 tackles for loss and forced two fumbles. That’s more than half his career sack production in one season.
The really impressive number? PFF gave him an 86.6 run defense grade, making him one of the best edge setters in this entire draft class. For a Chiefs defense that’s always looking for guys who can stay on the field in all situations, that’s exactly what Steve Spagnuolo wants to hear.
What Kansas City Is Getting
Young isn’t a finished product as a pass rusher, and the Chiefs know it. He’s got a solid spin move, a good rip move, and another spin move that’s still developing. The versatility is there though. He can line up with his hand in the dirt or stand up on the edge. He can slide inside on sub packages when they need him to.
That kind of flexibility is exactly what makes defensive coordinators happy. Young has what the mock draft analyst called a “non-stop motor” and plays with the kind of nasty streak that offensive tackles absolutely hate to deal with. He’s described as a prototypical strong side end who can hold the point of attack on run downs and then pin his ears back to hunt the quarterback on obvious passing situations.
Late First Round Value
Here’s where it gets interesting from a value perspective. Many mock drafts have Young projected as a second-round pick. The off-field concerns and the modest sack production probably pushed him down some boards. But at pick 29, the Chiefs might be getting a steal.
This is the kind of move that championship teams make. They identify talent that might have slipped due to circumstances beyond pure football ability, and they take calculated risks. The Chiefs have built their recent success partly on these kinds of decisions.
For a team that’s always thinking about how to stay competitive while managing the salary cap around a franchise quarterback, finding productive players in the late first round is essential. Young represents exactly that kind of opportunity.
The Bottom Line
The Chiefs continue to do what championship organizations do. They identify needs, they find value where others see risk, and they trust their development system to maximize talent. Young might not be the sexy pick that gets everyone excited, but he’s the kind of player who could end up making a real impact in Kansas City’s system.
And frankly, that’s exactly the kind of smart, calculated move we’ve come to expect from an organization that knows how to win. While the rest of us are still trying to figure out how to build a consistently competitive team, the Chiefs just keep adding pieces that fit their puzzle.
Is this another classic Chiefs move where they somehow find value everyone else missed, or are they just getting lucky with their late first round gambling? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
