'That usually means you're a pretty good football player' - Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo encouraged with rookie defender's development

One of the more under-the-radar picks the Chiefs made during the 2025 NFL Draft was defensive end Ashton Gillotte.

Kansas City selected Gillotte in the third round, 66th overall. He recorded 100 total tackles, 155 pressures, and 25 sacks in four years during his collegiate days with the Louisville Cardinals. At 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, Gillotte is a powerful rusher who has the versatility to play outside or inside.

He will look to become a key part of the Chiefs' pass rush rotation this season, but will have to compete with other DEs such as George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, Charles Omenihu, and Felix Anudike-Uzomah for snaps. Following Day 8 of training camp practice on Wednesday, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo discussed Gillotte's natural gifts.

"Ashton has been great," Spagnuolo said. "I think we've got him in one spot now because we want him to learn the defense as a defensive end, but I'm hoping at some point we can move him around a little bit. I don't know if we'll get to that this year or if that'll be down the road, but he's one of those guys I call a natural knee bender. He's a big guy, but I think he's got a lot of power from the hips-down, and I think he's a natural knee bender. That usually means you're a pretty good football player."

A player Gillotte's size possessing great bend makes for a tremendous advantage. The Chiefs sorely need to increase their sack total from last season after ranking 19th in the league with 39. Even if Gillotte is more of a pass rush specialist rather than a complete every down player as a rookie, it will give the defense a big boost. With Danna and Anudike-Uzomah coming off of disappointing 2024 campaigns, there is a big opportunity for Gillotte to make his mark.