Analyzing the Chiefs Day Two Draft Picks
While it doesn’t have the same level of drama, presentation, and hype as the first round, the second day of the NFL Draft still carries its narratives and surprises, such as the complete absence of one Shedeur Sanders. Regardless of the storylines, the second day of drafting always carries forth stellar athletes on whom the 32 franchises of the NFL will place their hopes for the future. With the excitement of Day Two now in the rearview mirror, it is time to sit down and reflect on the selections made this year by the front offices of the league in the second and third rounds. Let’s take a look at the Day Two decisions made by the Kansas City Chiefs.
With the 31st pick in the second round, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Omarr Norman-Lott, a defensive tackle from Tennessee. Everyone and their mother knew that the Chiefs would prioritize beefing up the defensive line in this year’s draft. However, Norman-Lott being selected with this pick is a bit of a surprise. He was mainly projected to be a third or even fourth-rounder, mainly due to being undersized for an interior DL and operating as a situational, package-dependent defender. However, his quick-trigger speed and reflexes make him a penetration threat on guards and centers that are too slow to prevent him from blowing up a gap on a run or pressuring the QB right at the snap. Paired in the interior with the likes of Chris Jones, Norman-Lott could find himself either assisting in a lot of sacks or accumulating quite a few of his own.
The Kansas City Chiefs selected Ashton Gillotte, an edge rusher from Louisville, with their next pick in the third round. Taken just three picks after Norman-Lott, Gillotte found himself Kansas City-bound early in the third round thanks to a pick that originally belonged to the Tennessee Titans. Gillotte was lethal to opposing quarterbacks during his time at Louisville, earning himself First Team All-ACC and Second Team All-ACC honors in his junior and senior seasons, respectively. As the highest-rated overall prospect taken by the Chiefs on Day Two, an edge rusher of Gillotte’s caliber will make the Chiefs’ DE corps, rounded out by George Karlaftis and new free agency addition Jerry Tillery, a very scary group for opposing offenses to face.
With the 21st pick in the third round, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Nohl Williams, a cornerback from California. Thanks to yet another pick originally belonging to another team, this time the Patriots, the Chiefs found themselves some much-needed depth for their corners. Williams made quite a name for himself in his senior season, leading the entire FBS with seven interceptions. With his ball-hawk abilities and long build, Williams could form an elite-level pairing with All-Pro Trent McDuffie in the defensive backfield.
While the Chiefs spent their first-round pick on some desperately needed help for protecting Patrick Mahomes, the keyword of Day Two for Kansas City was “defense.” In addition to the free agency moves the Chiefs have made, these draft picks should go a very long way in addressing the holes the team had on the defensive side of the roster. The Chiefs already boasted a top-five defense last season, and General Manager Brett Veach sees keeping the defense elite as a top priority, something one would be very hard-pressed to argue with. While it may take the vast majority of their rookie seasons for them to be ready for starting snaps, as is often the case in Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo’s complex defense, there should be a lot of room for excitement for these defenders to be turned into drive-stopping machines.
