The Kansas City Chiefs have made an intriguing selection in the 2025 NFL Draft by picking defensive end Ashton Gillotte out of Louisville with the 66th overall pick. While Gillotte may not possess ideal physical attributes like arm length, he is designed for a modern power rusher role, showing promise particularly in run defense. The Chiefs hope he can break a trend of disappointing performances from rookie defensive ends under coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who has seen only a handful of sacks from past drafts.

Gillotte enters a somewhat thin defensive line rotation alongside players like George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah. The expectation is that Gillotte will see between 300 to 400 snaps in his rookie year, and if he mirrors Karlaftis' usage, he could be involved in a significant number of pass rush opportunities. Pro Football Focus indicated that Gillotte's ability to pressure opponents will be crucial, and while he may not have a breakout season, he is viewed as a key part of the Chiefs' long-term defensive strategy.