The Kansas City Chiefs have the utmost respect for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. As such, they want to make sure he has all the groceries he needs to return the defense to Super Bowl-caliber status.
Which is why general manager Brett Veach used most of the team's offseason resources on the defensive side of the field. That included their second-round selection, R Mason Thomas, a speed-rusher from the University of Oklahoma.
Thomas was one of the most polarizing prospects in a pass-rusher-heavy class, given his lighter frame. However, that also gives him the potential positional versatility that could come in handy for Andy Reid's team.
Chiefs rookie R Mason Thomas could become defensive swiss army knife
At 6'2", 240 lbs, Thomas is a bit of a tweener for a defensive end. Then again, that lighter frame could also help him take the field at linebacker, given that the Chiefs don't have that much depth at the position beyond Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill.
His athleticism pops off the charts, and his get-off speed and acceleration are remarkable for a player at the position. Thomas ran a 4.67-second 40-yard dash, which was fine, but not necessarily impressive. However, his 1.63-second 10-yard split showed elite burst, which was also evident in his tape with the Sooners.
Over Thomas' final two collegiate seasons, he accumulated 49 total tackles (22 of them for loss), 15.5 sacks, and a pair of fumble return touchdowns. He was a borderline first-round pick, so taking Thomas at No. 40 may have been tremendous value for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs' pass-rushing unit has left plenty to be desired over the last couple of seasons. Chris Jones, while still an elite d-tackle, isn't getting any younger, and George Karlaftis hasn't necessarily lived up to his big contract, so adding a versatile, dynamic, and explosive athlete to the roster was a no-brainer call.
Of course, he may struggle to withstand the physicality of pro-level offensive tackles, which is another reason why he might be better suited to play multiple spots early on in his career. But after years of bulking up, he will probably give this team another reliable option at defensive end.
While he's obviously not in the same echelon of versatile pass-rushing prospects like Micah Parsons, Coach Spagnuolo can probably deploy Thomas in a similar way, moving him all around the defense to show different looks depending on matchups. Regardless of where he plays, he'll take the field early and often in 2026.
Add us as a preferred source on Google