Kansas City Chiefs get a sizable win ahead of training camp that will ensure the defense reaches its peak in 2025

Houston Texans WR Jayden Higgins and Cleveland Browns LB Carson Schwesinger received fully guaranteed contracts, which set a new precedent for second-round draft picks as they negotiated. Three of the four defensive tackles taken in the second round of the draft, T.J. Sanders (41), Alfred Collins (43), and Shemar Turner (62), each signed their second-round contracts this week ahead of Norman-Lott, with Collins and the 49ers kicking off a wave of signings. 

That paved the way for the Chiefs to secure a deal with Norman-Lott just ahead of training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri. It allows the rookie to participate in his first NFL training camp, ahead of a season during which he could play an outsized role on defense.

Chiefs DT Omarr Norman-Lott participating in training camp is a big win for the defense

One of the position groups that has the biggest questions remaining as the Chiefs kick off training camp is the interior defensive line. The Chiefs lost DTs Tershawn Wharton and Derrick Nnadi in free agency this offseason, who combined for 888 defensive snaps a season ago. That's a lot of snaps to have to replace year-over-year, and Norman-Lott will undoubtedly play a role in that, alongside others like Jerry Tillery and Fabien Lovett.

While Norman-Lott is expected to most naturally fill the three-technique role vacated by Wharton, as the third-heaviest interior defensive lineman on the team, he could be tasked with some run-stopping downs as well. Given the expectations that he will play quite a few snaps as a rookie, he'll need all of the practice preparation that he can possibly get in St. Joseph, Missouri, to prepare for what's to come during the 2025 NFL season.