‘We’ve got a few pit bulls as rookies’ — Chiefs veteran defender endorses Brett Veach’s 2025 NFL Draft class at training camp originally appeared on A to Z Sports.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 NFL Draft class is catching a ton of attention during their training camp, including some high praise from a veteran defender.
The team has several rookie draft picks starting or rotating in with the first-team offense and defense throughout the earliest portion of training camp. With pads finally coming on during Sunday’s practice, that remained true, and especially for rookie LT Josh Simmons. He’s been the talk of training camp, not just in Kansas City, but also in NFL circles.
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For those who have to practice against him, Simmons is also leaving an immense impression. Take it from Chiefs five-year veteran DE Mike Danna, who has seen plenty of the rookie during practice throughout the offseason.
“I think he’s a hell of an athlete, man,” Danna said of Simmons. “He has a bright future. The sky’s the limit for him. You know, he comes in, day in, day out, physical, athletic. It’s great to see him working in with the ones and see him compete every single day. The guy comes to work every single day, and he’s a tough competitor.”
Simmons might be the team’s first-round draft pick and the one catching the most attention, but there are some others on the defensive side of the ball who Danna has a hand in teaching.
Chiefs rookie defenders Ashton Gillotte and Omarr Norman-Lott also have a bright future
The Chiefs selected two defensive linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft: Tennessee DT Omarr Norman-Lott (63 overall) and Louisville DE Ashton Gillotte (66 overall).
Danna has worked alongside both players, explaining they each have a bright future and might be relied upon much earlier than expected. Gillotte, in particular, seems to have all the intangibles that make for a successful player in what’s considered to be a crowded edge rusher group.
“Oh, great kid, man,” Danna said of Gillotte. “He comes into work also, you know, with the chips on his shoulder. You see, he’s a great kid. He comes into work every single day, chin-to-hairline, he understands the game. He understands the playbook. We’re gonna rely on him a lot. We’re going to depend on him. He has a bright future as well. He plays the game the right way, with the effort, with the intensity. I’m excited for him.”
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As for Norman-Lott, one thing seems to stand out above the rest when it comes to his game, according to Danna.
“He’s explosive, man,” Danna said of Norman-Lott. “His get-off is amazing. He has a bright future as well, man. If you just keep working out, working his potential. He keeps striving every single day. He’s going to be a great, man. We’ve got a few pit bulls as rookies. So they’re coming in, they’re working Indy (Drills). You see them taking no reps off, one-on-ones. I’m really excited about (Omarr Norman-Lott’s) game, because he’s physical and explosive, and anytime you put that on film, that just pops out, man.”
The Chiefs will keep things rolling with their second padded training camp practice of the year on Monday, July 28.
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This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.