Days after the Christmas Day loss to the Denver Broncos, the Kansas City Chiefs are looking towards ending the season on a high note against the lowly Las Vegas Raiders in Week 18. However, despite the Chiefs' latest loss, one defensive rookie showed real promise in limited snaps.
Much like some of his fellow rookies, first-year linebacker Jeffrey Bassa has been forced into somewhat of a redshirt rookie season by the Chiefs' defensive coaching staff. It wasn’t until last week that the 2025 fifth-rounder began making some waves within the Chiefs' kingdom, specifically with his awareness and speed in pass coverage.
At 6’2” and 235 lbs, Bassa is a prototypical pass-coverage linebacker who still has lots of room to grow in the long run. But as we inch closer to the Chiefs' last game of the season, Bassa should be in line for a heavy workload, as this is Kansas City’s last real opportunity to get a good look at their younger players before the 2026 training camp.
Chiefs Must Throw Jeffrey Bassa Into the Fire in Week 18
Despite only playing 17 defensive snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus, Bassa has managed to make the most of those opportunities with four tackles. He's also shown tremendous speed when it comes to moving from sideline to sideline, demonstrating the type of non-stop motor and mobility that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo should want to put on display every week.
There should be plenty of chances for the first-year disruptor to make his mark in the season finale. The Raiders' offensive line has been a mess all year, as the unit has allowed the third-most sacks (57) and the 13th-highest pressure rate (22.4%), making them the perfect matchup if the Chiefs want to grow Bassa's confidence.
What is even more interesting is the fact that Bassa playing well in Week 18 could prove detrimental to two veterans at the same position. Drue Tranquill is entering his last season of a three-year deal, where the chances are very high that the Chiefs will cut or trade him and save $6M in cap money, according to Spotrac.
On top of that, Leo Chenal will be a free agent this offseason, and with Nick Bolton already on a sizable contract, the Chiefs would be reluctant to pay another linebacker big money when they have a guy in Bassa on a cheap contract who could take a major Year 2 leap. His cap hit will only rise to $1.1 million as his rookie deal continues in 2026, offering Kansas City some financial flexibility if he makes it clear that he's ready for a bigger role.
Week 18 will be a sour ending to a lost season, but if Bassa is given a large snap count and performs up to par, he gives himself a much better chance to be a starter going forward. And, of course, a strong effort against the Raiders would help Chiefs fans end a disappointing year on a high note.