Rounding up the grades for the Chiefs’ 2025 NFL Draft class

The Kansas City Chiefs finished up the NFL Draft on Saturday, making seven selections by the end of the weekend. Here is the complete listing of the Chiefs’ draft class of 2025:

Round 1 (32 — from Philadelphia): Ohio State LT Josh Simmons
Round 2 (63): Tennessee DT Omarr Norman-Lott
Round 3 (66 — from Tennessee): Louisville DE Ashton Gillotte
Round 3 (85 — from New England): California CB Nohl Williams
Round 4 (133): Utah State WR Jalen Royals
Round 5 (156 — from Pittsburgh): Oregon LB Jeffrey Bassa
Round 7 (228 — from New England): SMU RB Brashard Smith

As is the case every year, grades for the full class have begun to roll in. We’ve conveniently rounded them up for you here:

ESPN (Mel Kiper Jr.): B+

There was no way the Chiefs could exit the first two days of the draft without some serious offensive line improvements, even while slotted to pick down the board at No. 31. It doesn’t take a brilliant football mind to watch last season’s Super Bowl and know pass protection was a major factor in Kansas City’s blowout loss to Philadelphia. The Chiefs paid Jaylon Moore starting left tackle money in free agency, but he was a backup last season. And Jawaan Taylor hasn’t exactly been set-and-forget at right tackle. Even the once-mighty interior took a hit this offseason, when GM Brett Veach traded Joe Thuney to Chicago.

Not only did the Chiefs do something about it late on Day 1, they also picked up an extra fifth-rounder. They traded back one spot with the Eagles and finished Round 1 with Josh Simmons, who might have been the top offensive tackle in the class if not for a knee injury in the middle of last season. He’s terrific in pass protection and came at great value. I had him No. 15 on my Big Board . Even if he’s not quite ready for training camp, the Chiefs have Moore and Taylor. Once Simmons is fully healthy, he could be the answer as Patrick Mahomes ‘ blindside protector.

NFL.com (Chad Reuter): A-

Simmons will be an excellent pick at a major position of need for the Chiefs, if he’s able to return to form after recovering from the knee injury that shortened his 2024 season. Norman-Lott is a bit undersized (6-2, 291 pounds) and must be more consistent to justify his draft slot. Gillotte and Williams meet Chiefs archetypes for their respective positions.

I feel Royals could have easily been a late third-round pick because of his hands and quickness. Kansas City traded its fifth-round pick to Tennessee for receiver DeAndre Hopkins (41 receptions, 4 TD in 10 games) but acquired another fifth to use on Bassa, who was picked a round or two late and complements Nick Bolton well. Smith is exactly the type of speed back the Chiefs needed.

Pro Football Focus (staff): A

Simmons — After watching Patrick Mahomes get pressured over 40% of the time in the Super Bowl, the Chiefs look to give their franchise quarterback some time to do what he does best. Simmons is coming off a season-ending knee injury but showed impressive movement skills, flexibility and balance at the left tackle position. He allowed just one sack the past two years and posted an 82.2 true pass set pass-blocking grade in 2024.

Norman-Lott — Norman-Lott was arguably the best true pass-rushing defensive tackle in this draft class. His 18.9% pass-rush win rate led the nation, and his 88.3 true pass set pass-rush grade ranked above the 95th percentile. Norman-Lott plays with violence and speed and should provide the Chiefs with another pass-rushing force to rotate into their lineup.

Gillotte — The Chiefs have bolstered the trenches with their first-, second- and third-round picks. Gillotte is an effective pass rusher, earning an 89.9 pass-rush grade in 2024. He is also a stout run defender, who posted run-defense grades of 84.8 and 78.0 in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Williams — The Chiefs love their press-man cornerbacks, and Williams fits that mold. His length and physicality are exactly what defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo looks for in his defensive backs. His seven interceptions in 2024 powered his 80.0 PFF overall grade.

Sports Illustrated (Matt Verderame): B+

The Chiefs authored one of the league’s best drafts this weekend. General manager Brett Veach found a steal in Royals, who was widely projected as a Day 2 choice. Kansas City also nabbed three defenders on Friday, including Norman-Lott, who should contribute as a rookie on pass-rushing downs next to Chris Jones. In the first, Simmons is the ultimate boom-or-bust pick as an incredibly talented left tackle coming off a torn patellar tendon. If he works out, this draft will be a grand slam.

CBS Sports (Chris Trapasso): A-

General manager Brett Veach did work in this draft. Simmons can be a long-term answer at left tackle. He just needs to get healthy. Norman-Lott and Gillotte are high-upside pass-rushing options at defensive tackle and edge rusher, respectively.

Williams is the pesky man-to-man cornerback Steve Spagnuolo will adore, and Royals has a game very reminiscent of Rashee Rice — he rocks after the catch. Veach found quality players at clear need positions. I like the receiving upside of Smith in Round 7.

USA Today (Nate Davis): B

After watching their defense and blocking collapse in Super Bowl 59, HC Andy Reid and GM Brett Veach targeted fortifications – first-round LT Josh Simmons the most intriguing, particularly if he’s available ahead of schedule coming off the torn patellar tendon he suffered last October. Reid expressed confidence in Simmons’ progress, so the Chiefs might have committed quite the heist. Second-round DT Omarr Norman-Lott, third-round DE Ashton Gillotte and third-round CB Nohl Williams could all provide valuable reps immediately, the latter potentially allowing All-Pro Trent McDuffie to revert to slot duties.

FOX Sports (Rob Rang): A-

Andy Reid gets a lot of credit for the Chiefs’ success on game day and justifiably so. But GM Brett Veach delivered a master class on patience and value in the first round, as well, coaxing the Philadelphia Eagles out of a fifth-round pick (which KC ultimately traded to Pittsburgh) to drop a single spot and select Ohio State’s Josh Simmons, a talent worthy of a top-15 pick when healthy and filling a huge need at tackle.

I was surprised that Kansas City didn’t invest more picks on the offensive line the rest of the way, but I love the talent added. Omarr Norman-Lott is a penetrating defensive tackle who can provide immediate juice to the Chiefs’ defensive line, with the underrated Ashton Gillotte potentially doing the same on the outside. Middle-rounders Nohl Williams, Jalen Royals and Jeffrey Bassa were some of my favorite “second-tier” prospects at their respective positions in this class.

The advanced degree of difficulty in drafting for a team that has relatively few holes cannot be overstated. Veach and the Chiefs handled it masterfully, turning in one of the best classes of this year’s draft — slipping only slightly because I thought they needed more help along the offensive line.