The Kansas City Chiefs' exciting rookie class has been defined by the arrival of new left tackle Josh Simmons and receiver Jalen Royals. After early excitement, things have cooled a bit for Royals, who is dealing with an injury. Not only will the Chiefs be without Rashee Rice early in the season, but it appears the rookie pass catcher is in jeopardy of missing time as well. This leaves a lot of the pressure of the class on Simmons to provide stability.
Early returns have been exciting, with the biggest hurdle for the prospect being proving his health and being able to stay in the lineup to start the season. No question, the rookie class is going to be judged and looked at exclusively through the eyes of whether or not the splashy addition fixes the offensive line.
Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo said that he likes how Ashton Gillotte has come on as of late. Says that Omarr Norman-Lott has had a challenging offseason with the ankle injury, and they'll get a chance to see where he's at this week.
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) September 1, 2025
Chiefs Rookie Making Late Impression After Underwhelming Early in Camp
However, the Chiefs have another rookie making a late impression after being quiet at camp. Charles Goldman reported Steve Spagnuolo's comments on Ashton Gillotte, who has enjoyed a late surge through the end of the preseason leading into Week 1. Finding surprise pass rushers is always a welcome development, and this seems to be the case for the young Chief. The veteran DC is very careful with his words and chooses who to praise and who needs to continue to work.
Pointing out Gillotte heading into the season gives Kansas City another rookie to look for early in the year. It helps offset some of the frustration that has been around the loss of Royals. If both Simmons and Gillotte can make an early impact, this will still have a chance to be an incredible rookie class.
It is important to note as well that Royals isn't expected to be out for an extended time. While the injury is incredibly poorly timed, there is still a sense of belief that the playmaker is going to be able to return to the KC lineup and have a consistent impact. It just won't be with ideal timing that allows the rookie to help cover for Rice, who is suspended for the first six games of the 2025 season.
For Gillotte, the rookie is going to benefit from playing with veteran defensive ends and lining up next to the great Chris Jones. Playing with Jones on the league's most underrated defense sets you up in a way few teams allow. If Gillotte is going to work out, fans are quickly going to find the answer one way or another.
The praise from a respected coach is telling of where this is leaning, with reasonable expectations being 5-6 sacks in a rotational role and perhaps a defining playoff moment in the rookie's debut season. No question, this is a much-needed, exciting update for a team that has been hit hard with frustrating news heading into Week 1. Perhaps Gillotte is poised to help end this and help Kansas City start its 2025 revenge tour.