A pair of rookies could be the missing ingredients the Chiefs’ defense needs in area where it lacked the most in 2024 originally appeared on A to Z Sports.
The Kansas City Chiefs have a nice blend of youth and experience on defense.
They are returning 10 of 11 starters on the unit, with second year safety Jaden Hicks being the only new one. Even though they have a lot of veterans, most of them are still quite young. In fact, defensive tackle Chris Jones is the only starter who is in his 30’s.
The Chiefs have had one of the best defenses in the NFL over the past few years. However, it took a step backwards in one major category last season — sacks. Rookie defensive linemen Omarr Norman-Lott and Ashton Gillotte could help change that in 2025.
While speaking to the media following Monday’s training camp practice, defensive line coach Joe Cullen discussed Norman-Lott’s role specifically.
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“We got Chris Jones, who’s as dominant of a 3-technique as there is in the NFL, so we’re trying to get everybody else ready,” Cullen said. “You got to [be able to] play two spots, and Omarr is going to play both. Omarr will play three, and shade (1-technique). We’re getting him ready for both. He was 295-300 [pounds] in college, and he’s 304-305 1755138971, but he’ll adjust to that. [He has a] great motor, really soaks everything in, and just tries to do everything detailed and right”
1-technique is when a player is eating up space and taking on double teams, whereas 3-technique is a player that is trying to bust through the offensive line and get pressure on the quarterback. Some were surprised to see Norman-Lott playing 1-technique during the Chiefs’ preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals last week, since he didn’t do much of that during college.
The Chiefs have always been big on making their defensive linemen versatile, so it makes sense that they’re cross-training Norman-Lott. As for Gillotte, he’ll likely stay primarily at defensive end, similar to George Karlaftis. Cullen went on to compare the two.
“Very similar in terms of that they were coached by the same coach,” Cullen said of Gillotte and Karlaftis. “Coach Hagen did a great job at Georgia and Purdue, and now he’s at Louisville. Very similar.”
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Hagen coached Karlaftis at Purdue, then Gillotte at Louisville. The two formed a bond before Gillotte was even drafted by Kansas City, and now get to be teammates. The Chiefs finished 16th in the league in sacks last season with 39 after finishing second in 2023 (57) and 2022 (55). Hopefully Norman-Lott and Gillotte can boost the defense back up in that area, and eventually develop into starters.
This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.