Jeffrey Bassa’s fast rise has Nick Bolton and Chiefs fans buzzing

Jeffrey Bassa might be a fifth-round rookie, but it hasn’t taken long for him to earn the respect of the heart of the Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive.

Nick Bolton, who serves as the unit's primary communicator and was just rewarded with a lucrative contract extension, had plenty of praise for the Chiefs' newest linebacker following the conclusion of mandatory minicamp. When asked about Bassa’s development and fit in Steve Spagnuolo’s system, Bolton made a comparison that will make Chiefs fans take notice.

“[Bassa's] like a mix between Willie [Gay] that was here and Leo [Chenal] in terms of just stature-wise and his play style,” said Bolton. “But I think he’s done a great job communicating. One of those things that, as a linebacker coming in, you know you know your job if you communicate well. He does that probably as good as anybody.”

Chiefs Kingdom has to love what Nick Bolton is saying about Jeffrey Bassa's early development.

Communication is vital to successfully play in Spags' defensive schemes, and Bassa’s ability to quickly digest and respond within complex packages is already evident to Bolton. The veteran linebacker said he’s spent time one-on-one with Bassa to help accelerate the learning curve, and the early returns are impressive.

“He’s a high-IQ guy, a high motor. He’s a little bit of a louder guy, but he can run. He can cover a little bit,” said Bolton. “He brings those intangibles to the team we need.”

At Oregon, Bassa played in 55 games and finished with 237 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 7 pass deflections, and 3 interceptions. He was named Defensive MVP of the 2024 Fiesta Bowl after leading the Ducks with eight tackles, and his versatility allowed him to thrive in multiple alignments, which is essential to earning playing time for K.C.

While Bassa’s role on the defense is still to be determined, Bolton said the rookie is approaching the opportunity the right way.

“I tell him all the time, man, just go out there and have fun and look at the big picture, small picture every day—just try to get a little bit better, and then it leads you where you need to be,” said Bolton. “He’s been doing that every day, so I’m proud of where he’s at.”

The Chiefs don't need Bassa to be an instant contributor, except on special teams, given the presence of Bolton, Drue Tranquill, and Leo Chenal. But given that Chenal is in a contract year and Tranquill is going to be 30 years old, Bassa's presence will be important for years to come.

The good news is that Bassa is already making waves among his teammates, and the Chiefs' captain has taken notice. It wouldn't be surprising to hear Bassa's name earlier than expected.