Chiefs Final 2025 NFL Draft Grades: Kansas City sticks with value picks, but might have waited too long on key position

Fans are concerned about his low snap count in Knoxville. That's a Tennessee Volunteers problem and not a Norman-Lott problem (as evidenced by the snap counts of other D-linemen on their team). Ultimately, Norman-Lott can get his feet wet as a sub-package player and develop into a three-down defensive lineman. 

Round 3, Pick 66: Louisville DE Ashton Gillotte

Grade: B

The concerns here center around positional need (the edge-rushing room is rather crowded), and other players with more notoriety were on the board. However, after hearing from Gillotte and Chiefs' Sr. Director of Player Personnel Mike Bradway, it's apparent why Gillotte was the pick. The Chiefs don't just value his skills on the football field as a highly productive pressure-preducing edge rusher, but his character, which they believe touches rarified air. The icing on the cake was that he already has a working relationship with Chiefs DE George Karlaftis, which should help him get up to speed quickly. 

Round 3, Pick 85: California CB Nohl Williams

Grade: B+

The only downside of this pick is that the Chiefs had to cough up the pick they acquired from the Bears in the Joe Thuney trade to get it. Rest assured, they wouldn't be able to find a cornerback as good as Williams with that pick in 2026. He's a long, physical cornerback who excels in press-man coverage with the ability to mirror defenders and compete at the catch point for the football. He was available later on Day 2 because of some questions about his long speed (ran a 4.5 40-yard dash), but I think those are slightly overblown. 

Round 4, Pick 133: Utah State WR Jalen Royals

Grade: A+

This might be the most immediately impactful pick of the 2025 NFL Draft class for Kansas City. Not only did the Chiefs get extreme value here (projected to go 58 picks earlier), but they added an elite yard-after-catch and deep threat to an already talented wide receiver room. This raises the floor on the room in Kansas City in a big way and will create competition that could potentially push some veteran players off the roster.

Round 5, Pick 156: Oregon LB Jeffrey Bassa

Grade: B-

Linebacker probably wasn't on many Chiefs fans' radar here, but this pick was again all about value. Kansas City got him 36 slots after he was expected to go by our NFL Draft team here at A to Z Sports. Some NFL Draft experts, like The Athletic's Dane Brugler, ranked him inside their top 100 picks ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. He's a converted safety who has sideline-to-sideline range and can play MIKE and WILL linebacker spots. He'll push the linebacker room to improve in 2025 and could even push for some playing time in sub-packages. 

Round 7, Pick 228: SMU RB Brashard Smith

Grade: C+

This trade and move felt a bit reactionary after the Seattle Seahawks took Damien Martinez at pick 223. Three running backs came off the board between the Chiefs' move up for Smith and where they would have picked initially at 251. I can't help but think Kansas City waited a bit too long to add a running back. Smith is a fun player with a vastly different skill set from the players already on the team. He's pretty raw as a running back after only playing the position for one year in college. That said, he should have a lot of versatility to his game with special teams and receiving ability.

Full 2025 Chiefs' draft class

• Round 1, pick 32: Ohio State LT Josh Simmons
• Round 2, pick 63: Tennessee DT Omarr Norman-Lott
• Round 3, pick 66: Louisville DE Ashton Gillotte
• Round 3, pick 85: Cal CB Nohl Williams
• Round 4, pick 133: Utah State WR Jalen Royals
• Round 5, pick 156: Oregon LB Jeffrey Bassa
• Round 7, pick 228: SMU RB Brashard Smith