Grading every pick, trade that the Kansas City Chiefs made during the 2025 NFL draft

USA Today

27-04-2025

Grading every pick, trade that the Kansas City Chiefs made during the 2025 NFL draft
General manager Brett Veach got creative in his effort to help the Kansas City Chiefs build for the future during the 2025 NFL draft.
Over the course of seven rounds, Veach managed to find exciting prospects who should be able to compete for playing time in short order as Kansas City looks to earn its fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance next season.
While Kansas City entered the Annual Player Selection Meeting with relatively limited resources, Veach made a series of trades on all three days of the draft to give Kansas City maximum flexibility.
Check out our grades for every move that the Chiefs made during the 2025 NFL draft:
Round 1: Trade down with Philadelphia Eagles
Kansas City sent the No. 31 pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for the No. 32 and 164 selections. Given that the Eagles took a defender when the Chiefs were targeting an offensive lineman, this trade made a lot of sense for the Chiefs, who needed to add a Day 3 pick via trade at some point during the draft.
Grade: A-
Round 1, Pick 32: Chiefs select Ohio State Buckeyes OT Josh Simmons
Simmons is an undeniably talented tackle prospect, but likely fell to Kansas City due to a serious knee injury that he sustained during Ohio State's 2024 campaign. If the injury doesn't affect his trajectory as a professional, this pick is a home run, but should Simmons' development get thrown off track due to his condition, this pick could be an inning-ending double play.
One has to assume that the Chiefs did their homework, and I'm cautiously optimistic about the prospect of Simmons starting for Kansas City at left tackle next season.
Grade: B
Round 2, Pick 63: Chiefs select Tennessee Volunteers DL Omarr Norman-Lott
I'm inclined to trust Brett Veach's vision when it comes to Kansas City's defensive line, even if I don't always understand exactly what the team intends to do with the players he picks up. Norman-Lott wasn't a player I expected the Chiefs to take, but if Veach liked him better than the other linemen who were available, who am I to judge?
Still, I thought Norman-Lott may have been a bit of a reach at pick No. 63, even if he ultimately ends up being a rock-solid player.
Grade: B-
Round 3, Pick 66: Chiefs select Louisville Cardinals EDGE Ashton Gillotte
It is hard to argue with the kind of production that Gillotte achieved as a collegian, and Kansas City seems to have gotten good value for him early in the third round.
But the Chiefs didn't enter the 2025 NFL draft with a paucity of edge rushers, and it seemed to me like this pick could have been spent on a top prospect at another position.
But, as with Norman-Lott, I'll defer to Veach on this pick.
Grade: B-
Round 3: Chiefs trade up with New England Patriots
The 2025 NFL draft class wasn't particularly deep at cornerback, so it makes sense that Veach would trade up to get "his guy" in at the position with this pick.
However, the Chiefs had to give up a 2026 fourth-round selection to move up just 10 spots from No. 95 to No. 85, which seemed rather steep given that the trade back in the first round only netted a fifth-rounder.
Grade: C-
Round 3, Pick 85: Chiefs select California Golden Bears DB Nohl Williams
Though I'm not sold on the trade that put Kansas City in a position to take Williams, I really don't hate the pick. Kansas City needed to add a ball hawk, and if Veach believes the former Golden Bear is a guy who can help the Chiefs force more turnovers next season, I'm all-in on him.
Grade: B+
Round 4, Pick 133: Chiefs select Utah State Aggies WR Jalen Royals
From an aesthetics perspective, I don't think there is anything cooler than having a Chiefs player with the last name "Royals," especially given that Patrick Mahomes (noted baseball aficionado and part-owner of the Kansas City Royals) will be his quarterback.
It also doesn't hurt that Royals is a stud, and may be able to make meaningful contributions to the Chiefs' offense as a rookie.
This is my favorite pick of the bunch.
Grade: A
Round 5: Chiefs trade up with Pittsburgh Steelers
This trade only cost Kansas City a seventh-round pick and netted the Chiefs a valuable linebacker prospect. Kansas City had three seventh-rounders entering Day 3, so it made sense for Veach to make them available for a trade up like this.
Grade: B+
Round 5, Pick 156: Oregon Ducks LB Jeffrey Bassa
Bassa was a great value for Kansas City in Round 5, and the trade-up for him came at negligible cost. His selection came at a perfect time for the Chiefs to land a promising developmental prospect, and while Bassa isn't likely to see the field much as a linebacker during his rookie season, he should be able to earn a role on the Chiefs' special teams unit early in his career.
Grade: A-
Round 7: Chiefs trade up with New England Patriots
This was another smart trade by Veach, even though it will likely prove to be inconsequential. Kansas City sent New England the No. 251 and No. 257 picks for the No. 228 selection in Round 7.
Grade: B
Round 7, Pick 228: Chiefs select Southern Methodist University Mustangs RB Brashard Smith
Veach found star rusher Isiah Pacheco in Round 7 of the 2022 NFL draft, and may have found his next late-round gem in Smith. Though it is hard to predict how seventh-round picks will project as professionals, Smith has all the makings of a dynamic running back who could help Kansas City bridge a gap if Isiah Pacheco leaves the Chiefs in free agency next year.
Grade: B+
Grading Brett Veach's overall performance
If I'm being totally honest, I was underwhelmed by this draft class. Simmons, Norman-Lott, and Royals all had varying injury concerns that may have been what caused them to drop to the Chiefs, and it still feels like Kansas City is lacking some juice on both sides of the ball.
For as much as I'm not excited right now, I've also learned to trust the process. Veach has proven to be adept at finding undervalued talent in the late rounds, and it is far too early to tell where each prospect will fit with the Chiefs next season.
Grade: B