The Kansas City Chiefs invested several assets in recent years to acquire stout edge rushers capable of defending the run.
If Chiefs general manager Brett Veach continues this trend, expect the Chiefs to consider selecting Louisville’s Ashton Gillotte in the 2025 NFL draft.
Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy lists Gillotte’s verified height and weight as 6’2 3/8″ and 269 lbs., making him a sturdy 4-3 defensive end. Gillotte competed in powerlifting in high school, which helped mold his weight room dominance and current build. Unfortunately, his arms only extend 32 1/4 inches, which falls below the 33-inch threshold teams look for in top prospects.
Gillotte compensates for his lack of arm length with precise strikes that drive his powerful hands into the offensive lineman’s chest. His pass rush plan includes chops, inside spins, long-arms, rips, swims, two-armed bull rushes, and two-handed swipes. Gillotte needs to continue diversifying his pass rush plan and develop more hand counters.
One of my early favorites for a #Bears first-round pick in 2025 is Louisville EDGE Ashton Gillotte.
Here he is as a 3-tech. Great pad level, tremendous speed-to-power, plenty of effort. He has legit inside-outside versatility with 18 sacks and 22.5 TFL in the last two years. pic.twitter.com/ze9qXovPhn
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 28, 2024
Gillotte lacks the bend to win around the edge consistently but dips his inside shoulder just enough to sneak around some offensive tackles. He avoids the outside rush path by prying open the B-gap with his power. Gillotte displays powerful leg drive, but his bull rushes fail to break anchors at an elite level.
Gillotte’s anchor prevents offensive linemen from displacing him in the run game. He generates quick penetration against the run with his polished swim move. Gillotte’s play strength allows him to set the edge as an outside linebacker or reduce inside as a 4-tech or 4i over top of the offensive tackle.
Gillotte’s lack of ideal arm length and bend put a cap on his ceiling as a prospect. Elite power rushers still have value as top 100 selections, but Gillotte’s bull rushes don’t reach that level. He projects as a late fourth or early fifth-round pick.
