Jeffrey Bassa didn't arrive in Kansas City with a spotlight. He wasn't a first-round pick. He didn't dominate draft headlines. But from the moment he stepped onto the field, he started making noise the only way that matters: by being in the right place, at the right time, over and over again.
Drafted 156th overall out of Oregon, Bassa didn't come into Kansas City with a big celebration or his name in lights. But if you watched the Chiefs' preseason opener against the Cardinals, you might be asking yourself, "Why not?". Because everyone saw it: instincts, the speed, the presence. He led the team with six tackles (three solo), added a quarterback hit, and returned to play after a brief injury scare like it was just a Tuesday. That's grit. That's the heart. That's a guy who wants it.
Bassa didn't grow up playing linebacker; he became one. At Oregon, he started as a safety, which means his instincts were built around coverage, anticipation, and reading quarterbacks. When he transitioned to linebacker, he didn't lose that vision; he layered it with physicality. Now, he sees the game from both angles: the backend and the box.
That's why he reacts faster, covers smarter, and blitzes with purpose. In Spagnuolo's defense where disguise and adaptability are everything, that dual mindset isn't just helpful, its rare. Spags doesn't run a bland defense. He wants chess pieces. He wants guys who can disguise, rotate and communicate. Bassa checks every box, seeing the field like a chess board and hits like its checkmate.
Sure, he's behind Bolton, Tranquill, and Chenal for play time. But let's not pretend that depth charts in August mean anything in December. Tranquill and Chenal are in the final year of their deals, which means the Chiefs could be rebuilding parts of the linebacker room next season. And Bassa? He's already laying bricks.
Jeffrey Bassa isn't just earning a spot, he's earning a role. He's versatile, instinctive, and built of the kind of organized chaos this Chiefs defense thrives on. Whether he's blitzing, dropping into coverage, or cleaning up busted plays, Bassa fits right into Coach Spagnuolo's mad genius defense. Not making him a member of the 53 man roster would be...not genius.