Going into Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday night, the Kansas City Chiefs had the next-to-last pick of the second round and the third pick of the third round. They used them in short order, acquiring Tennessee defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott at 63 and Louisville defensive end Ashton Gillotte at 66.
“We kind of reset the board yesterday,” Kansas City director of player personnel Mike Brady explained to reporters. “It was clear those guys were rated pretty highly. We thought it was an opportunity [to] just get those guys back-to-back. You know, you can never have enough of them.”
According to Bradway, the team was happy it played out that way.
“[We] didn’t know how the board was going to come off [in] the second round, but we were surprised — and obviously really excited — they were both there.”
In Norman-Lott, Bradway believes the team has acquired an explosive, athletic player who will find kindred spirits among his teammates.
“He can run [and] he’s really disruptive,” said Bradway of the former Tennessee player. “[He’s] a really good interior rusher — like we saw on tape, but also in the Senior Bowl. We brought him in for a visit. [He’s] a really fun kid — a personal kid — [that] I think will fit really well in the room.”
Norman-Lott was a rotational player with the Volunteers. Kansas City expects him to play a similar role along the team’s defensive interior.
“That’s the first thing,” acknowledged Bradway. “It’s a heavy rotation [in Tennessee], so I think he played only about 25% of the snaps — and in those snaps, you’re talking about a guy that maximizes his snaps [with] the unique explosion he has off the ball.
“We saw a guy that was very conditioned. He’s got a great frame. He’s got 11-inch hands [and] 34-inch arms. He’s strong for his size. And then you go down to the Senior Bowl and he was really impressive down there. I thought he was one of the better interior defensive linemen. We envision him being a really productive rotational guy.”
Like most rookies, Norman-Lott is willing to play wherever Kansas City wants him.
“Honestly, I’m a player,” he told reporters in a Zoom call. “I’m going to get in where I fit in — [and] I’m going to do what the coach is asking me. So whatever system we have built in already here with Chiefs Kingdom, I’m going to adhere to that — and we’re gonna get it done, however it needs to be done.”
Describing himself as a “relentless” and “unforgiving” player on the field, Norman-Lott has an interesting job in his background: working as a bouncer in a bar.
“That was a good experience early in college,” he laughed. “It wasn’t a lifestyle that was conducive to me making it to where I am today, so I had to make a change. But that experience — within itself — was amazing. It taught me a lot [about] how to handle situations — [to] de-escalate first in all situations, you know what I mean? But that era and time was amazing.”
As much as he fondly remembers that period of his life, Norman-Lott is now focused on his future.
“It means the world to be able to be in the National Football League — let alone be a Chief,” he marveled. “I mean, this is everything. And Steve Spagnuolo? He’s the head man. He draws up what’s about to go down on the field. So I love him and appreciate him to death — and Andy Reid, too, for making me a part of this organization.
“Shout out to the Chiefs Kingdom! I’m ready to go get after it, hunt some quarterbacks down and make some plays in the backfield!”
