Tennessee's Omarr Norman-Lott was ‘one of the top guys left' for the Chiefs
Late in the second round of the NFL Draft, defensive tackles like Tyleik Williams of Ohio State and Alfred Collins of Texas had already come off the board, while Toledo's Darius Alexander was still available. These were some of the high-profile players that Kansas City Chiefs fans had been expecting the team to acquire to improve its defensive interior.
But Kansas City used the 63rd overall pick to get Tennessee defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott. While he wasn't the player many fans expected, the Chiefs had been eyeing him.
Advertisement
'His get-off is one of the top in this class,' director of player personnel and college scouting Ryne Nutt said of Norman-Lott on Monday. 'He can get up the field and use his hands. He's got a move array. So as a rusher, [he] was very intriguing.'
As far as the Chiefs' were concerned, Norman-Lott could replace some of what the team lost with the departure of Tershawn Wharton, who signed a three-year deal with the Carolina Panthers in free agency.
'He's got some similarities to Turk,' said Nutt. 'He's bigger — [and] he's not as fast — but their playing style is very similar. This kid was like 99th percentile in terms of rush win rate; he was one of the top defensive tackles in winning one-on-one pass rushes. And that's what we — first off — need. And that's what we saw could add value.'
Nutt reminded his listeners that at the NFL Scouting Combine, Norman-Lott checked in at 6 feet 2 and 291 pounds, with 33 3/4-inch arms and 10 3/4-inch hands — and then turned in a 31.5-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-5 broad jump.
Advertisement
'Those guys go quick,' explained Nutt. 'We know they go quick — and an interior guy that can rush as well [will] go even quicker.'
And that put him on general manager Brett Veach's radar.
'Before the draft — [and] before that round,' recalled Nutt, 'Brett was pretty adamant: 'OK, he's one of these guys we have to consider.' We put up a list of four or five guys. He was one of them. He ended up being one of the top guys left — and that was a position of need as well.'
The team is well aware that, unlike some of the other defensive tackles available in the draft, Norman-Lott (who played just 26% of Tennessee's defensive snaps in 2024, per PFF) was mostly used as a pass rusher in sub-packages. But according to Nutt, that's just what the Chiefs need.
Advertisement
'We feel like he can come in and help out — [and] help rush the passer,' maintained Nutt. 'He didn't start a ton [during] his career there at Tennessee, but it's really what you do with snaps — and they rotate a lot. So really, it's just what he does in those 20 to 25 snaps a game. The kid [has a] high motor. He was highly productive and highly disruptive. And those are the things we look for.'
The team also believes that Norman-Lott is walking into the right situation with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and defensive line coach Joe Cullen.
'He'll be with coach Cullen,' noted Nutt, 'the best defensive line coach in the NFL, I believe. He'll be able to get that out of him — and I think more, even, against the run... We're excited to get this kid and work with him — because we think there's a ton of potential.'
More from arrowheadpride.com:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
30 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Noah Brown carted off field at Commanders minicamp. Jeremy Reaves gets extended, AP source says
Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown was carted off the field after getting injured during minicamp in Ashburn, Virginia, on Wednesday. It was not immediately clear what happened to cause the injury or its extent. Reporters in attendance reported Brown walked off slowly after making a catch, threw his helmet in frustration when he reached the sideline and was carted up the hill to the practice facility.
San Francisco Chronicle
31 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Action! Jets using helmet-mounted cameras to help Justin Fields and the other QBs improve
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — There's a new addition to the New York Jets ' huddles this offseason. And it's not just the quarterback. The team is using video cameras attached to the top of the helmets of Justin Fields and fellow QBs Tyrod Taylor, Adrian Martinez and Brady Cook throughout organized team activities and the Jets' three-day minicamp this week. The purpose is to record every aspect of the play, from the quarterback getting the play, taking the snap, going through his reads and finishing. Then, the players and coaches can closely review the footage — and make director's cuts to the plays and the playbook. 'Yeah, it's kind of cool,' Fields said Wednesday. 'It's my first time ever doing it, but it's definitely cool just basically kind of hearing the play call again and kind of just going through, making sure you're just doing everything within the process of the play. So yeah, I like the GoPro a lot.' Using technology to measure progress is far from a new concept in the NFL, with several teams incorporating cameras, GPS systems and virtual reality in training, something the Jets did several years ago. Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has used a helmet-mounted video camera and Minnesota also used them on its QBs last season. Jets coach Aaron Glenn was with Detroit when the Lions used GoPros and he and his staff, including offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand and quarterbacks coach Charles London, thought it might be useful with a new set of signal callers in New York. 'We said, let's give it a shot in rookie minicamp and see what it looks like, and then we loved it and we just said, let's just do it,' Engstrand said. "Everybody's doing it the whole time and it's been phenomenal for those guys. It gives direct feedback. Shoot, the O-line coach is in there watching the tape with his O-line, you know what I mean? 'Because you can hear everything — you can hear the calls. It's been really beneficial for us.' One of the knocks on Fields during his first four NFL seasons has been that he sometimes holds onto the football too long, leading to sacks and interceptions. The GoPros can be used as a tool to help offset and improve that shortcoming while allowing Fields and the rest of the quarterbacks to understand what they're seeing and hearing — and how it's translating on the field. 'Instead of trying to guess, 'Where did your eyes start?' we'll go back and watch it,' London said. 'You can see where his eyes started and you can see how he went in his progression.' It also helps the wide receivers, running backs, tight ends and offensive line get more familiar with the quarterback's cadence while watching the recorded video and audio. And everyone can hear every on-field comment, too, leading to some laughs. 'They only turn it on when you're actually on the field,' Fields said before grinning. 'But, I mean, some funny things have definitely been said and they've definitely been picked up, for sure.' That might take some getting used to for some players, but Engstrand said all the quarterbacks were open to the idea. "We didn't have to convince them of anything because they look at it and they go, 'This is a way for me to improve,' and that's what they're all here to do," Engstrand said. 'They're all here to find a way to get better and help contribute to the team and get us some more wins on the board. So, there was no convincing needed there.' Fields, a first-round draft pick in Chicago in 2021 who spent last season in Pittsburgh, has previously spoken about using his past experiences to help improve on and off the field. He's heading into this season as the Jets' starting quarterback and plans to gather some of his offensive teammates for throwing sessions during the break before training camp next month. 'I kind of had a feeling when I got here guys were looking for a leader to step up on offense,' Fields said. 'So, I was glad to receive that role and, of course, pushing the guys each and every day to be our best and play up to our standard.' And Fields has been doing exactly that — and his work on the film has gotten rave reviews. 'The biggest takeaway I would say is that this guy is just a workaholic,' Engstrand said. 'He comes in early, he's here late and he's trying to digest everything and download all the information and do things the right way. He's trying to do things that we're asking and I think he's really put the next foot forward every day, just trying to stack days, and it's been really good.' ___
Associated Press
32 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Noah Brown carted off field at Commanders minicamp. Jeremy Reaves gets extended, AP source says
Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown was carted off the field after getting injured during minicamp in Ashburn, Virginia, on Wednesday. It was not immediately clear what happened to cause the injury or its extent. Reporters in attendance reported Brown walked off slowly after making a catch, threw his helmet in frustration when he reached the sideline and was carted up the hill to the practice facility. Brown, who caught Jayden Daniels' desperation pass against Chicago for one of the Commanders' signature moments last season, missed the final four games of last season and their playoff run to the NFC championship game with a kidney injury. He re-signed on a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million. Washington also took care of some longer-term business Wednesday, signing safety and special teams ace Jeremy Reaves to a one-year extension through the 2026 NFL season, according to a person with knowledge of the move. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team did not announce the deal. 'Grateful for the journey, the fans, this team and organization,' Reaves posted on social media. 'Much more in store!' Reaves, now 28, was an All-Pro selection on special teams in 2022. He missed the majority of 2023 after getting sidelined by a torn ACL five games into that season. ___ AP NFL:
