'Very much a coach on the field' — Polarizing Chiefs defender ranked among best at NFL's weakest position group

Chiefs LB Nick Bolton's true value is clearly understood by NFL executives, coaches, and scouts

NFL executives, coaches, and scouts seem to understand exactly what LB Nick Bolton brings to the Chiefs. At just 24 years old, Bolton was ranked fourth in the league behind San Francisco 49ers LB Fred Warner, Baltimore Ravens LB Roquan Smith, and Philadelphia Eagles LB Zack Baun. That's one spot higher than where he ranked a season ago. He was ranked as high as second and as low as unranked, which speaks to the lack of consensus at this position group. 

Bolton is coming off of what ESPN described as his "most complete" season in 2024, with career-high marks in sacks (3), pass deflections (6), and quarterback hits (7). Since his rookie campaign in 2021, Bolton has made tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage on 4.7% of his run defense snaps, leading all linebackers with over 1,000 snaps to their name. But it's not just his playmaking ability that earns him this recognition.

"He allows [the Chiefs] to get all 11 players in the best call based on all of the information provided by the situation," a veteran NFL defensive coach said of Bolton, via ESPN. "Very much a coach on the field."

As a field general, what Bolton does for the other 10 players on the field is more important than his impact as an individual player on the field. He makes everyone on the defense better because he gets them in position to make plays on any given snap as the team's green-dot-wearer. That's what the Chiefs have often valued over the physical traits or splash plays, and it's good to see that most of the NFL agrees.