The Kansas City Chiefs lack both star power and depth at defensive end. The team needs to invest multiple selections over the next few years into rebuilding the defensive front. Wide receiver is the only position group with more top 100-caliber talent in the 2026 NFL Draft than edge rusher. That opens the door for the Chiefs to make selections at both long-term positions of need.

Auburn Tigers defensive end Keyron Crawford is a developmental prospect who is still learning the position. He only began playing football in 2021 and spent the first half of his college career at Arkansas State before transferring to Auburn. Crawford needs a longer runway to reach his potential than most edge prospects in this class, but Ashton Gillotte’s presence on the roster gives the Chiefs flexibility with his timeline.

Crawford is an explosive pass rusher with the burst off the line to generate quick pressures. Even when he doesn’t time his first step well, Crawford possesses the acceleration to reach his top speed and beat offensive tackles around their outside shoulders. He relies heavily on his speed because his 6'4", 253 lb. frame lacks the power to win through the offensive tackle’s frame.

Keyron Crawford is the other half of Auburn’s EDGE duo, and is the better pass rusher at the moment 👀 pic.twitter.com/Ct57ODtU9P

Crawford needs to perfect his pass rush plan and add more counters and secondary rush moves. He currently relies heavily on club-swims, rips, spins, stab-chops, swims and two-handed swipes. Crawford attacks the B-gap with a speed rush and uses his smooth change of direction to exchange gaps post-snap.

Crawford’s arms are only 32 inches, which puts him in the eighth percentile among edge rushers. He struggles to recover when the offensive tackle lands the first punch, and his lack of power prevents him from mitigating his limited length in the same way as players like Rueben Bain Jr. and Gabe Jacas. His bend at the top of the rush is also inconsistent, which sometimes confines him to being a one-trick speed rusher.

Crawford is a high motor defender who shows flashes of overcoming his length limitations in the run game. He doesn’t apply consistent force at the point of attack to stack and shed blocks, but he posted some flashes in 2025 that suggest he will develop the technique.

Crawford also offers unique value in coverage. His speed and change of direction help him succeed dropping into shallow zones and taking away the flat.

Crawford is a mid-Day 3 talent that some NFL team will bet on in the third round.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Auburn Tigers DE Keyron Crawford