{"id":51898,"date":"2025-04-29T17:55:19","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T17:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=51898"},"modified":"2025-04-29T17:55:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T17:55:19","slug":"how-the-chiefs-will-use-their-newly-drafted-players-this-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=51898","title":{"rendered":"How the Chiefs will use their newly-drafted players this season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now that the <\/em>Kansas City Chiefs have taken seven players in the 2025 <\/em>NFL Draft, let\u2019s project the role each one will play during their rookie season.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Round 1, pick 32<\/strong><\/p>\n

Predicting Simmons\u2019 role is tricky, because we don\u2019t know how he will ramp up to playing. According to head coach Andy Reid, he\u2019s expected to be healthy by training camp. But how much does the team want to put on him right away?<\/p>\n

I think the best approach is to have Jaylon Moore begin camp as the starting left tackle. That will give Simmons time to pick up the offense and get himself physically ready to play. If Simmons looks good, then he should play immediately. Moore is a career backup \u2014 and Simmons has more talent.<\/p>\n

But this shouldn\u2019t be the expectation<\/em>. Simmons is coming off a serious injury. If he\u2019s not ready, that\u2019s okay. As he recovers, Moore can start. But once Simmons is available, the Chiefs shouldn\u2019t hesitate to put him in \u2014 unless Moore (and the rest of the offensive line) are playing well. We\u2019ll just have to see how well Simmons can play during camp and preseason.<\/p>\n

Tennessee defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Round 2, pick 63<\/strong><\/p>\n

Among these rookies, I actually think Norman-Lott has the easiest path to playing on Day 1. Kansas City remains thin at defensive tackle, so he\u2019s going to play. I think he\u2019ll get 20-25 snaps a game as a 3-tech, giving Chris Jones a breather.<\/p>\n

Still, I could see Norman-Lott getting an expanded role if he can provide an immediate boost to the pass rush; it would be intriguing to see him line up as a nose tackle and rush the passer on third downs. The Chiefs don\u2019t put Jones there because it\u2019s easier for offenses to double-team him. But Jones still gets doubled when he\u2019s out wide, which means Norman-Lott could be one-on-one against a center. That\u2019s a way he can make an impact as a rookie.<\/p>\n

Louisville defensive end Ashton Gillotte<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Round 3, pick 66<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gillotte\u2019s role could depend on his weight. If he plays between 275 and 280 pounds \u2014 as he did with the Cardinals \u2014 he\u2019s likely to be a run-defending defensive end who can play tight to tackles and deal with double teams.<\/p>\n

But since he did his athletic testing at 265 pounds, Kansas City may see him as more of a pass rusher. While Gillotte was mainly a power rusher in college, he has shown some other moves, too. There\u2019s a chance that with these moves \u2014 and his athleticism \u2014 Gillotte could help the Chiefs as a third-down rusher around the corner. That\u2019s something the team lacked in 2024.<\/p>\n

California cornerback Nohl Williams<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Round 3, pick 95<\/strong><\/p>\n

Right now, Williams is seventh on the depth chart. When the Chiefs play dime, Trent McDuffie, Kristian Fulton, Jaylen Watson, Bryan Cook, Chamarri Conner and Jaden Hicks will be on the field; there\u2019s no room for Williams unless there is an injury. Fulton, however, has an injury history \u2014 and Watson has often been a rotational player. If one of those guys gets hurt (or struggles), then Williams in the slot \u2014 thereby pushing McDuffie outside \u2014 feels like the natural move.<\/p>\n

Utah State wide receiver Jalen Royals<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Round 4, Pick 133<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is plenty of duplication among the team\u2019s wideouts. With Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown \u2014 and now Royals \u2014 the Chiefs have four explosive receivers who are best in the slot, in motion and on underneath routes. So how the Chiefs deploy these players will be fascinating.<\/p>\n

Royals could easily play more than Brown. At 205 pounds, his size might matter in a room with Rice and Worthy. While he isn\u2019t an X receiver, he\u2019s a better downfield route runner than Brown \u2014 and I think he can deal with more hits. If Royals picks up the offense right away, I could see him being Kansas City\u2019s third receiver.<\/p>\n

Oregon linebacker Jeff Bassa<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Round 5, pick 156<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to see: Bassa will be the fourth linebacker and play special teams. If a linebacker gets hurt, he\u2019ll play. If he has to play on defense, his skillset is similar to Drue Tranquill\u2019s.<\/p>\n

SMU running back Brashard Smith<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Round 7, pick 228<\/strong><\/p>\n

Smith is likely to be used in a role similar to Jerick McKinnon\u2019s. He\u2019s an explosive mover who can make guys miss in space. He\u2019s small, so he won\u2019t be able to handle a heavy workload or interior runs \u2014 but as a change-of-pace back, he\u2019ll be able to play immediately.<\/p>\n

Smith \u2014 a former wide receiver \u2014 caught 39 passes for SMU in 2024. With his skills in space, I love the idea of having him on swing routes \u2014 and the Chiefs desperately need someone who can do that. If he can pick up pass protection fairly easily, I think Smith will quickly become the third-down back who mixes in with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kansas City has acquired seven new players through the draft. 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