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The Kansas City Chiefs continued to fortify their defensive front during the 2025 NFL Draft,
selecting Louisville standout Ashton Gillotte with the 66th overall pick Friday night. As reported
by Matt McMullen of Chiefs.com, the move brings an energetic, versatile, and battle-tested
pass rusher into Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s dynamic scheme.
Gillotte, a 6-foot-3, 334-pound edge threat, left a lasting mark at Louisville. Over 50 career
games, he tallied 39.5 tackles-for-loss and 25.5 sacks, placing him among the top six in
Cardinals history in both categories. His 2023 season was especially electric: Gillotte led the
ACC with 11 sacks and recorded 14.5 tackles-for-loss, along with three forced fumbles.
Remarkably, he generated even more quarterback pressures in 2024 (60) than the year prior
(58), showcasing his steady improvement.
Chiefs Senior Director of Player Personnel Mike Bradway praised Gillotte’s relentless
approach, stating, “This kid plays 100 miles-per-hour. He’s everything you want in a football
player.” That high-motor effort is something Kansas City fans, and particularly Spagnuolo, are
sure to appreciate.
One of Gillotte’s most intriguing qualities is his positional flexibility. While primarily an edge
rusher, he occasionally lined up as a three-technique defensive tackle at Louisville, giving
Kansas City another chess piece along their front. Pro Football Focus highlighted Gillotte’s
ability to slide inside, noting he’s “strong as an ox” and effective against the run in addition to
rushing the passer.
Athleticism is another major part of Gillotte’s appeal. Featured in Bruce Feldman’s
renowned “Freaks List” before the 2022 season, Gillotte impressed scouts with his rare
combination of size and speed. Feldman noted Gillotte’s ability to hit nearly 20 miles per hour on
GPS, vertical jump 36 inches, and power-clean close to 400 pounds — feats that helped him
dominate at Louisville. His athletic excellence was further confirmed by a stellar 9.75 out of 10
Relative Athletic Score (RAS), placing him among the top edge prospects in the past three
decades, according to Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb).
Local buzz surrounding the pick has been largely positive. On X (formerly Twitter), fans and
analysts alike have praised the Chiefs for addressing a need with a player of Gillotte’s motor
and upside. Matt McMullen of Chiefs.com shared a touching moment from Gillotte’s post-draft
media availability: already dressed in Chiefs gear, Gillotte proudly explained that his uncle — a
lifelong Kansas City fan — “called it from the beginning” that he would end up wearing red and
gold.
“I don’t even know how he became a Chiefs fan,” Gillotte said with a laugh. “But he’s been
one as long as I can remember.”
Kansas City also gains a built-in connection between Gillotte and current Chiefs defensive
end George Karlaftis. The two began working together after being linked by a mutual college
coach, with Karlaftis taking on a mentorship role. Gillotte credited Karlaftis for helping refine his
pass-rushing technique, joking that now Karlaftis is “stuck” with him as teammates.
Local media has already begun speculating about the havoc the duo could create together
in 2025. With Karlaftis, Chris Jones, Charles Omenihu, and now Gillotte on the line,
Spagnuolo may have one of the deepest and most versatile defensive fronts in the NFL —
something critical as the Chiefs aim for an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title.
As the Chiefs continue to evolve and reload rather than rebuild, the selection of Ashton
Gillotte looks to be another savvy move by General Manager Brett Veach. Gillotte’s blend of
production, athleticism, and relentless energy could make him an impact player as early as his
rookie season — and for a franchise already at the top of the NFL mountain, that’s a scary
thought for the rest of the league.
I’m no scout. I’m just a mook, trying to make sense out of the early scouting reports, the
scouting reports, the mock scouting reports, and the resulting gibberish handed down by the
GM on the last day of the draft. Then with the help of my daughter, Maliah, who scours social
media, looking for story lines and angles, she keeps the ball bouncing. Click the link below for
the last word on the draft from the Kansas City Chiefs.
https://youtu.be/q9KBNXcOaz0?si=I_TjcEsU95ZzTrMo
