2025 Chiefs NFL draft grades: Grades for every Kansas City selection
The Kansas City Chiefs were one game away from becoming the first team in NFL history to three-peat as Super Bowl champions. They could not beat the Philadelphia Eagles in a game that exposed Kansas City's biggest weakness.
The Chiefs struggled to protect Patrick Mahomes throughout Super Bowl 59. The Eagles put him under relentless pressure and sacked him six times. That allowed Philadelphia to build an insurmountable lead and win the championship in a lopsided 40-22 fashion.
Kansas City's goal going into the 2025 offseason was to upgrade its blocking in front of Mahomes. It hasn't yet accomplished that goal in full. While the team retained star right guard Trey Smith on the franchise tag and signed tackle Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million deal in free agency, the team still has questions across the line.
Notably, the Chiefs traded All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney, who filled in at left tackle last season, to the Chicago Bears. They will try to replace him with 2024 second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia, but the left side of Kansas City's line looks shaky.
With that in mind, the Chiefs are expected to target offensive linemen during the 2025 NFL draft while also helping shore up the defensive trenches next to Chris Jones. Improving play in that area will go a long way toward helping Mahomes and Andy Reid try to win a fourth ring during their brief time together to date.
Who are the Chiefs taking in the 2025 draft and how do they fit the team? Here are Paste BN Sports' grades for Kansas City's selections.
Chiefs NFL draft grades
This section will be updated as picks are made.
Round 1, Pick 32: Josh Simmons, OL, Ohio State
A torn patellar tendon suffered in October threw Simmons' stock into a state of uncertainty throughout the pre-draft process. But a player who otherwise checked every box for a high-end pass blocker still ended up securing a Day 1 spot. After signing Jaylon Moore, the Chiefs can slow-play Simmons' arrival in the lineup while still having peace of mind that the long-term protection plan for Patrick Mahomes is in a solid spot.
The Chiefs moved back a spot but still got one of the best tackle prospects in the draft. Simmons likely would've been a top-15 pick if not for a mid-season knee injury. Once fully recovered, he has the potential to be a long-term starter at tackle for the Chiefs. They get great value here and depth in case free agent signee Jaylon Moore or Jawaan Taylor can't hold up consistently.
Round 2, Pick 63: Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee
Ayron Ostly, Paste BN Sports: B
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, Paste BN Sports: C+
Round 3, Pick 66: Ashton Gillotte, edge, Louisville
There's not a ton of mystery to Gillotte's approach, which typically entails him trying to plow through whoever is lined up across from him. But for whatever he lacks in creativity, he still has a way of flustering offenses with his forcefulness.
Kansas City goes back-to-back with defensive line selections in taking Gillotte at the top of third round. The Louisville edge rusher has a dense frame at 6-foot-2 and 264 pounds but is very flexible at the point of attack. He should make for a great rotational piece as a rookie as the very least.
Round 3, Pick 85: Nohl Williams, CB, Cal
- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, Paste BN Sports: B
- Ayrton Ostly, Paste BN Sports: A-
Round 4, Pick 133: Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
- Ayrton Ostly, Paste BN Sports: A
Royals has one of the best bursts in the class at 6-foot and 205 pounds. He gives another speed element to the Chiefs' offense alongside Xavier Worthy but with the size to take on physical defenders a bit better. He ran a limited route tree in college but this is a great value pick for the Chiefs.
Round 5, Pick 156: Jeffrey Bassa, LB, Oregon
Bassa isn't an elite athlete or an outlier size-wise at 6-foot-1 and 228 pounds but he plays hard and has the football IQ to fit run defense very well. He struggled at times to finish plays at Oregon and that should improve with time at Kansas City. The Chiefs could take the former safety and make him another good front seven piece.
Round 7, Pick 228: Brashard Smith, RB, SMU
Kansas City could use more speed in the backfield and get exactly that with Smith. The SMU product is a threat in the open field with the ball in his hands and a proven receiver out of the backfield. He'll make for an ideal compliment to Isaiah Pacheco in the Chiefs' backfield.
Chiefs NFL draft picks
Below is a full list of Kansas City's selections in the 2025 NFL draft:
- Round 1, Pick 31: OL Josh Simmons
- Round 2, Pick 63: Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee
- Round 3, Pick 66 (via Titans): Ashton Gillotte, Edge, Louisville
- Round 3, Pick 85 (from DEN through CAR and NE): Nohl Williams, CB, Cal
- Round 4, Pick 133: Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
- Round 5, Pick 156: Jeffrey Bassa, LB, Oregon
- Round 7, Pick 228: Brashard Smith, RB, SMU