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Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid will meet with a rising prospect ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to host another 2026 NFL Draft prospect on a top-30 visit in the coming days, as the latest news and rumors report that Louisville defensive lineman Rene Konga will be flying to KC for a private meeting.

SI NFL reporter Arye Pulli relayed the news on the evening of April 12, informing: “Source: The Chiefs are set to host Louisville DL Rene Konga on a pre-draft ‘30’ visit.”

Pulli also added that Konga has “shot up draft boards following an impressive pro day performance.”

Chiefs Take NFL Draft Expert’s Advice With Rene Konga News

During his comprehensive 2026 NFL Draft guide, known as “The Beast,” The Athletic’s scouting expert Dane Brugler noted that Konga is “the type of ascending prospect worth bringing to your building.”

The Chiefs clearly took that advice, inviting the red-hot defensive lineman to Kansas City.

“Konga’s college career was a slow burn, but his fresh start at Louisville felt like an awakening for him,” Brugler wrote within his scouting report. Adding that an NFL scout told him Konga is a “quiet kid… [and that] some guys just need time to mature their habits and realize their abilities.”

“He has a compact build and carries his weight well with long, thick arms,” Brugler continued. “[Konga] tends to pop upright, which leaves him stuck on contact, but he can get blockers moving using his athletic feet and strong swats. His closing speed is only average, which can hurt his sack production. He is physical in the run game and has adequate anchor to hold his ground. Effort plays are all over his tape, and he did a nice job finding passing lanes (six batted passes in 2025).”

This does sound like the type of versatile athlete that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo would appreciate.

Brugler’s comments about Konga’s physicality in the run game and high-effort plays are reminiscent of Mike Danna, a former fifth-round pick turned starter. Danna was a cap casualty this offseason, and Konga could end up being drafted to help replace him.

Inside the Numbers on Rene Konga Amid Chiefs NFL Draft Rumors

According to Brugler and “The Beast,” Konga weighed in at just under 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, at 6-foot-3 ¾ and 298 pounds.

He has good change-of-direction and agility, with a three-cone drill time of 7.03 seconds. For reference, an elite defensive end’s three-cone time is anything under 6.9 seconds, while an elite defensive tackle’s time would be anything under 7.35 seconds.

As a defensive end, Konga would be considered above average, and that’s likely where he’d play at the NFL level.

Konga also has 9 ½ inch hands and a wingspan of 81 inches. He ran a 4.79-second 40-yard dash and hit an impressive 37 inches on his vertical jump.

Over the course of his college career, Konga was credited with 6.0 total sacks and 11 tackles for a loss (TFLs). He also batted 8 passes, with 6 batted passes in his final season, as Brugler mentioned.

Konga started 18 games with Louisville compared to zero in his first three collegiate seasons at Rutgers. 4.0 of his 6.0 sacks came during those final two years, along with 49 total tackles and 8 of his TFLs.

Konga turns 24 years old in November, so he’s not the youngest of prospects. He was originally a three-star recruit out of high school who began his collegiate career with Rutgers in 2020, although he did not appear in a game until 2021.

Michael Obermuller covers the NFL as an Associate Editor for Heavy Sports, where he began writing in 2021. His areas of focus include the NFL breaking news operation, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers, with expert knowledge on each based on years of coverage. Michael is an NYC area native and Quinnipiac graduate. More about Michael Obermuller