Everything Chiefs fans need to know about KC's third-round pick EDGE Ashton Gillotte
Everything Chiefs fans need to know about KC's third-round pick EDGE Ashton Gillotte
The Kansas City Chiefs selected one of college football's most exciting sack-masters, Louisville Cardinals edge rusher Ashton Gillotte, in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft.
In 51 games as a collegian, Gillotte racked up 26.5 sacks and 41 tackles for loss, leading Louisville's defense as one of the top pass rushers in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
With Gillotte in the mix, the Chiefs' front four should be able to feast on opposing passers next season as Kansas City endeavors to earn a spot in its fourth consecutive Super Bowl.
Take a look at everything the Chiefs had to say about Gillotte in their official draft packet:
Ashton Gillotte college bio
"Spent four seasons at Louisville (2021-24) … Appeared in 51 games and recorded 131 tackles (73 solo), 40.5 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits, 26.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one pass defensed … Played in 12 games in 2024 and tallied 43 tackles (23 solo) and 4.5 sacks … Led the country in hurries … Started all 14 games in 2023 recording 45 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 11.0 sacks … Started 12 games in 2022 posting 7.0 sacks and eight tackles for loss … Appeared in 13 games (four starts) in 2021 and finished with 19 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks … Three-time All-ACC Academic selection (2022-24) … Finalist for the Campbell Trophy (2024) … CSC Academic All-American (2024) … First-team All-ACC (2023)."
Ashton Gillotte personal notes
Three-star prospect by 247Sports.
Ranked as the No. 72 weakside defensive end and the No. 165 in Florida.
Credited with 128 tackles during his career at Boca Raton (Fla.).
Went to the state championship in weightlifting and was ranked 21st in the Southeast region for CrossFit.
Ashton Gillotte draft notes
Gillotte becomes the first defensive end to be selected by the Chiefs in the third round since DEAlex Magee was taken 67th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft.
This marks the fifth time the Chiefs have selected a defensive end in the NFL Draft in the last sixyears (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025).
Gillotte was the first defensive end taken in the third round and the 10th defensive end takenoverall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Gillotte is the only former Louisville Cardinal on the current Chiefs roster.
What did Gillotte have to say after the Chiefs drafted him?
Q: What was your draft experience like?
GILLOTTE: 'I was celebrating with my family. I have family outside – currently they're following me a littlebit. I was inside with (my) mom, dad, brother, sister, some close friends, aunts and uncles. A really tightgroup, people that I care a lot about – it's nice.'
Q: Can you tell us more about your relationship with George Karlaftis?
GILLOTTE: '(DE) George (Karlaftis) and I are coached by the same Coach – (Louisville Co-DefensiveCoordinator/Defensive Line) Mark Hagen. He had him at Purdue, and then Coach Hagen came to us(Louisville). The relationship with George is (that) he was training with us, just because (a) free facility inthe offseason, and so, my coach was like, 'I think this would be a good person for you to get in with. He'sa smart guy. I think you would be able to relate to him a little bit.' I was doing film study with him, watchingplays – he was watching (our) practice, saying, 'that's bad, you have to fix that.' He's very critical, but, ina lot of ways, he helped refine how our pass rushing needed to get to this level to be considered. It's kindof a mentor-type role, trying not to blow his phone up too much and try to respect it. Now he has nochoice, he's stuck with me.'
Q: What were your conversations like with Steve Spagnuolo and the defensive staff?
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