The Kansas City Chiefs continued reshaping their defense during the 2025 NFL Draft. With the 66th overall pick, they chose Louisville defensive end Ashton Gillotte. He offers a physical, powerful edge presence with multi-positional potential upfront. His consistent motor, violent hands and strong base stand out on tape.
The pick reinforces Kansas City’s commitment to developing young, versatile defensive linemen. Gillotte starred in the ACC as a steady force for Louisville’s defense. While not flashy or overly athletic, he wins with strength and discipline. He uses a heavy-handed bull rush to collapse the pocket consistently. The third-rounder also brings a solid rip and swim move toolbox. He’ll look to contribute rotationally early in Steve Spagnuolo’s aggressive front.
Kansas City Chiefs Pick Ashton Gillotte Brings Power Over Speed
Gillotte wins with brute force, relying on leverage and controlled aggression. He sets the tone using tight hands and steady footwork on contact. Whether lined up outside or shading inside, he controls space effectively. The Chiefs could move him across the line on passing downs.
His long-arm movement and effort level add extra value to the third down. Speed isn’t Gillotte’s game, and his first step lacks explosion. He won’t beat NFL tackles with quickness or flexible cornering ability. Struggles with bend and twitch limit his ceiling as a pure rusher. He also has trouble containing mobile quarterbacks on extended outside plays. Still, his traits suit Kansas City’s interior-heavy, gap-control pass-rush approach.
Final Thoughts
This is a depth-focused pick with a long-term starter upside for Kansas City. Gillotte won’t dominate early, but his strength profile fits the Chiefs’ scheme. He should serve as a run-stopping rotational end from the jump. If he expands his pass-rush toolkit, his snap count will increase. Coaches will likely use him situationally until his technique matures further.
Gillotte joins a young defensive line room with rising talent and experience. His physicality could complement Kansas City’s more athletic edge defenders well. While his skill set has clear limitations, his ceiling isn’t capped yet. Expect the Chiefs to develop his pass-rush versatility slowly over time. In the right packages, Gillotte may thrive and become a valued contributor.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
