The Kansas City Chiefs took R Mason Thomas in the second round after every team passed on him for his size and arm length.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t![\"Kansas](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/USATSI_28343015-scaled.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFeb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oklahoma defensive lineman R Mason Thomas (DL60) speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
R Mason Thomas could be the draft pick from the 2026 NFL Draft that surprises this fan base the most. Sure, he was a second-round pick, so it\u2019s not like he will be a player who comes out of nowhere. However, his work ethic will elevate him beyond what most expect of him.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s already showing some of that, and he\u2019s not even played a game with the Chiefs yet. In fact, he just finished his first weekend of rookie minicamp, and he already got right back to work, perfecting his craft and honing in on his pass rush moves. Thomas\u2019 mentality and work ethic are qualities you just don\u2019t often see in players in his position.<\/p>\n
The Chiefs needed some help on the edge with getting to the passer. This draft pick is a little against what Steve Spagnuolo usually likes. Thomas is a bit smaller than the usual build KC goes for. However, his speed-to-power, bend, and hand usage while rushing the passer are pretty good, too. Thomas is twitchy, uses natural leverage to get underneath blockers, and is very instinctive.<\/p>\n
There are some downsides to Thomas, though. He\u2019s prone to jump offsides, as he had three of those calls in 2025. His lack of length does show, as sometimes he\u2019s forced inside the tackle. If he\u2019s double-teamed, even if it\u2019s with a tackle and tight end, he\u2019s got almost no shot to beat that double team.<\/p>\n
But, once again, he has an insane motor; just watch another play from that same game as he chased down an RB on a 44-yard run.<\/p>\n
R Mason Thomas is an extremely clutch player, just ask Auburn<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no real way to say this other than the fact that Thomas is a dog. He calls his shot, and he closes out games. That\u2019s why his nickname in college was \u201cThe Closer.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n With the game on the line for the Tigers in Norman, Oklahoma, Auburn found themselves on their own one-yard line. Thomas had been dominating what was a pretty decent offensive line unit all game long. He then told his teammates not to even rush the passer, but that he would do it himself, one-on-five, and get the sack for a safety against Jackson Arnold, his former teammate.<\/p>\n \u201c[R Mason Thomas] was just like, \u2018Let me go get him.\u2019 And that\u2019s why we backed off and let him do his thing,\u201d defensive tackle Gracen Halton told On3\u2019s Parker Thune after that game.<\/p>\n \t\t\t Kansas City Chiefs News<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/USATSI_28107356-200x200.jpg\")
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