Meet Big Citrus, the Unicorn Type Chiefs Are Seeking in Draft

Draft prospects are getting older, and Kansas City Chiefs know they have to adjust.

Iowa State Cyclones defensive line Domonique Orange (95) and inebacker Jack Sadowsky (33) attempt to tackle as North Dakota Fighting Hawks running back Isaiah Smith (29) runs for first down during the fourth quarter in the season opening game at Jack Trice Stadium on Aug. 31, 2024,  in Ames, Iowa | Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Big Citrus might start his NFL career playing for Big Red.

A 6-2, 322-pound defensive tackle out of Iowa State, Domonique Orange has the best nickname in a draft since the Jets took Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner. Orange, who played for Leon Douglas at North Kansas City High School, isn’t a first-round prospect like Gardner. He’s most likely someone the Chiefs would target on Day 2 or early in Day 3.

Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa State defensive lineman Dom Orange (DL24) speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Kansas City prospect is unicorn these days

He’s also scheduled a private workout for April 7 and his hometown NFL team will reportedly attend. Truly a rarity these days, Orange just turned 22 so he’s not too old or too young. Orange played 50 games in four seasons, and spent all four years with one college program, something almost unheard of during the NIL and transfer-portal era.

And just because Andy Reid has reclaimed the title of oldest NFL head coach, that doesn’t mean the Chiefs like draft prospects approaching social-security age. General manager Brett Veach prefers younger players, giving Reid and his staff the challenge of developing those with valuable upside like Orange.

Jan 4, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid observes warm ups before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

“You see it when we're looking at the tags,” Veach said at the scouting combine last month, referring to the magnets that identify each prospect on a draft board, “and you see their birthdates. And then you look at your roster, and a lot of the guys are just as young as these guys, and then it kind of trickles down.”

Veach said when the Chiefs got the mid-January list of underclassmen who filed for draft eligibility, he had to painfully remove about 25 percent of those tags from his top 100 prospects. About a quarter of the players the Chiefs were most excited to draft in April opted to stay in school – due to NIL money, the opportunity for more playing time through the transfer portal, or both.

Jul 22, 2025; St. Joseph, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach on field during training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

And by staying in school, they also get older before they enter the NFL. Still, Veach doesn’t see a dip in hunger. He simply sees a shrinking talent pool.

“You’re getting older prospects as you go on,” he said. “So, I don't think that's going to change anytime soon, and that's something that we have to adapt to until there's some wholesale changes on what they do on the college side. I think this is just going to be the way things work now, and it's for us to adapt and adjust to it, and position yourself to get some of the younger players that have a little more growth.”

Sep 6, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Zach Calzada (5) warms up before the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

One way to adapt and adjust is to acquire more picks. General managers increase their odds at winning the lottery when they scratch off more lottery tickets. For the second time four years, Veach did just that with a blockbuster trade the month before a draft. In 2022, he dealt Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins. And earlier this month, he acquired four more lottery tickets by sending Trent McDuffie to the Rams.

As of Monday afternoon, Veach now has nine picks in 2026 and, assuming the Chiefs get their three projected compensatory selections, nine more in 2027.

Jan 13, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (38) and cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) break up a pass intended for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) during the second half of the 2024 AFC wild card game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Why Mesidor might be off Chiefs' board

At least this year, don’t expect the Chiefs to passionately pursue some of the draft’s older players, such as Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor, whose body has already absorbed 65 games over six college seasons. He’ll be 25 when Roger Goodell kicks off the draft next month in Pittsburgh.

But younger prospects like Orange are still out there, and Veach said there’s a sweet spot for finding them.

Iowa State Cyclones' defensive line Domonique Orange (95) celebrates after a stop BYU offense during the first quarter at Jack Trice Stadium on Oct. 25, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. | Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“Now, these guys are just bouncing and getting paid by another school,” Veach said, “and they get paid and they’re playing. So, it's a little bit in that 2, 3, 4 round where you got these younger developmental guys that haven't scratched the surface yet.

“Instead, you're getting a little bit more already finished product, and that's challenging. But I think it's, again, what we have to adapt to. And that goes into how you position your board, and when to be aggressive and when not to be aggressive.”