Understandably, a lot of the Kansas City Chiefs draft fallout has been centered around the team's two first-round additions. Considering the potential boost the secondary got from Mansoor Delane and the help that Peter Woods can offer Chris Jones on the inside, this is more than fair. However, it is overlooking the fact that the Chiefs very quietly added an edge rusher with the ability to help provide stability to the position for years to come.
R Mason Thomas was selected 40th overall and has a chance to quickly prove why he belonged far higher. The edge rusher had 6.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles with the Sooners last season. What is more impressive than the production is turning on the tape and watching how incredibly explosive Thomas is on his first step. It is one of the few traits that cannot be coached in an edge rusher, and what makes the defender's addition so exciting.
Not only is Thomas incredibly explosive, but there is a shocking amount of power that is used to help convert his jumps into pressures. All of the needed tools are in place for Thomas to have an instant impact and push himself into a starting role.
For the Chiefs, there simply isn't a question that this is quickly going to be revealed as a steal of a draft pick. Everything about the rookie's game is perfectly set up to translate to defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's unit and make KC's pass-rushing unit far more capable.
Chiefs Were Given Clear Draft Steal Selecting Edge Rusher Mason Thomas
The reasons why Thomas fell to the Chiefs in this spot appear to be concerns around past injuries and a smaller frame. While durability is always a concern, KC is the perfect landing spot to get the most out of Thomas. There is no way around the fact that the defender could be an elite edge rushing weapon with a burst that it is impossible to see not translating to the next level.
Another piece of why this selection is such a win is the pressure that it is going to help take off the shoulders of Jones. The star defender has been asked to carry too heavy of a pass-rushing load on the inside without the benefit of the needed help around him. This has led to a level of defensive frustration and exposed a clear need for the Chiefs to add a player exactly like Thomas.
No question, this draft pick has a chance to be every bit as impactful as Kansas City's first-round selections. It wouldn't be a shock to see defender quickly find his way into the starting lineup and establish himself as one of the steals of this year's draft.
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