Some draft outcomes don’t just change a roster. They sometimes give rival teams many sleepless nights. For ex-Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, one specific Kansas City scenario crosses that line.

While mock drafts increasingly connect the Chiefs to offensive weapon Jeremiyah Love, Carr admitted this week that a defensive alternative worries him far more. Speaking on the Carr Brothers show in comments shared by Starcade Media on February 17, the veteran quarterback imagined the fallout if pass rusher Reuben Bain Jr. somehow slipped to Kansas City’s No. 9 pick.

“If Rueben Bain falls to the Kansas City Chiefs, I will lose it!” That reaction wasn’t random. It was about the team that would be adding him. “It’s not fair!” “…Let’s say I’m the Chiefs and with the 9th pick the Saints select Jeremiyah Love, I take my card with Bain on it and go like this and hit him right in the chest.”

Carr’s joke landed because the logic behind it was real. Kansas City already fields one of the league’s toughest defensive fronts. Adding a top-edge prospect turns a strength into a matchup nightmare.

If a player like Bain reaches them, it’s a terrifying prospect for the AFC West. While George Karlaftis has developed into a reliable starter, pairing him with a high-ceiling twitch athlete like Bain would allow Spagnuolo to run his schemes. He can then put four high-end pass rushers on the field at once.

The Chiefs defense under Steve Spagnuolo allowed just 19.3 points per game and remains anchored by Chris Jones, with George Karlaftis emerging alongside him. However, the unit still finished 2025 with only 35 sacks and struggled to generate pressure in key third-and-long situations.

That is exactly where Bain fits. The Miami Hurricanes defender posted 54 tackles and 9.5 sacks this season. In a December 20 matchup against Texas A&M, he recorded five tackles, four for loss, three sacks and a blocked field goal. His presence also coincided with Miami’s defensive surge, improving from 25.3 points allowed per game to roughly 15 per game.

Beyond the 9.5 sacks, it’s Bain’s efficiency that has impressed the scouts. In 2025, Bain recorded 67 total pressures, ranking him 2nd among all edge defenders in the nation according to PFF. His versatility is his greatest asset; at 275 pounds, he has the heavy hands required to set the edge against the run.

Bain’s performance against Texas A&M, where he lived in the backfield with 4 tackles for loss, proved he can handle the NFL’s intensity. Adding that kind of interior-exterior flexibility next to Chris Jones would likely force opposing offensive coordinators to keep a tight end in for maximum protection.

Because of that profile, draft analyst Jordan Reid expects him to be selected before Kansas City picks. Yet if he reaches No. 9, the schematic match becomes obvious. At 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, Bain fits the prototype Spagnuolo prefers for power rushers.

Carr’s frustration reflects a league-wide reality. Elite teams rarely pick high enough to draft elite pass rushers. When they do, competitive balance shifts quickly.

Derek Carr shares his feelings after Jeremiyah Love’s name pops up

Meanwhile, another path exists. Several mock drafts link Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love to the Chiefs instead. Love rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns this season and consistently appears inside the top 10 of projections. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. ranked him the No. 2 overall prospect and pointed to Kansas City’s offensive inconsistency late in 2025.

“You could see it, right? The Chiefs make their first pick in the top 10 since they took Patrick Mahomes at No. 10 in 2017 and use it to get a game-changing running back. Improving the run game could open up the offense in a big way.”

The argument for Jeremiyah Love is compelling, especially considering the Chiefs’ offensive crisis. In 2025, Kansas City’s rushing attack was largely a clueless effort that lacked an explosive threat. Love, the Doak Walker Award winner, averaged a staggering 6.9 yards per carry. He didn’t just run the ball; he broke the Notre Dame record for total touchdowns in a season with 21.

Kansas City’s offense stalled late last season while the defense stabilized games. A dynamic running threat would rebalance the roster and ease pressure on the passing attack. That option helps the Chiefs. Bain potentially terrifies opponents.

Quarterbacks usually worry about offensive additions. Carr reacted to a defensive one. That distinction matters. Love improves Kansas City’s efficiency. Bain could change how teams game-plan entirely.

So the debate around the No. 9 pick is not just about the best player available. It is about which side of the ball the Chiefs want to tilt their identity toward. If the choice becomes offense versus pass rush, the rest of the AFC will be watching closely. One option helps Kansas City score easier. The other makes facing them harder.