Chiefs Draft Pick’s Training Camp Ascension Continues: Nobody’s ‘Climbing Faster’

Don’t look now, but the Kansas City Chiefs appear to be crushing it with another new draft class, as defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott is the latest rookie who is turning heads at training camp.

The Chiefs already have first-round left tackle Josh Simmons fully healthy and taking first-team reps at practice, wide receiver Jalen Royals and UDFA tight end Jake Briningstool impressing with receptions from Patrick Mahomes, running back Brashard Smith making big plays throughout spring and early summer, and defensive selections Nohl Williams (CB), Ashton Gillotte (DE) and Jeffrey Bassa (LB) flashing their potential, but Norman-Lott may have them all beat.

According to new ESPN beat reporter Nate Taylor (formerly of The Athletic), Norman-Lott has been the most impressive member of the 2025 draft class so far.

“Guys, I’m here to tell you. I don’t say this lightly. This year’s edition of ‘he looks the part’ is Omarr Norman-Lott,” Taylor said on KC Sports Network’s “Only Weird Games” podcast. With the podcast clip captioned: “Nobody’s stock is climbing faster” at Chiefs training camp.

“Last year was [safety] Jaden Hicks, it was so obvious that Jaden Hicks looked the part,” the beat reporter reminded. “And I said, oh my god, they got him in the fourth round?”

With Norman-Lott, the biggest thing that’s stood out is defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo consistently giving him first-team reps this spring and summer.

“Seniority kind of rules with Steve Spagnuolo, especially this early in the camp,” Taylor noted on the podcast, and that’s why he sees Norman-Lott’s ascension as no small feat.

“He’s 6-foot-3, 315 [pounds]… And he moves like the wind for that size,” the reporter eventually reasoned. “I’m most excited to watch him in a preseason game more than any other [Chiefs] rookie right now, and that is saying something.”

Chiefs Rookie DT Omarr Norman-Lott Could Be New Robin to Chris Jones’ Batman If He Can Prove Himself as a Run Defender

One of the Chiefs’ greatest needs entering training camp was seemingly another run-stuffing defensive tackle. After all, nose tackle Mike Pennel is in the twilight years of his career, and the only other true candidates at that position appeared to be second-year UDFA Fabien Lovett Sr. and reserve pickup Marlon Tuipulotu.

But that was before KC switched up the expected game plan with Norman-Lott.

Perhaps, it was always their plan, but Norman-Lott has seemingly overtaken Pennel for the first-team one-tech role on the defensive line alongside superstar three-tech DT Chris Jones. To secure this starting job, the rookie will have to prove that he can hold up against the run, which Tennessee seemingly avoided with “ONL” in college.

But that wasn’t necessarily due to a lack of ability in that area.

Needless to say, if Norman-Lott can prove himself against the run consistently throughout training camp, that puts the Chiefs’ defensive line in a great spot heading into the 2025 season.

Norman-Lott Has a ‘Welcome to the NFL’ Moment at Chiefs Training Camp

On Friday, July 25, Norman-Lott spoke with reporters, and he referenced a sort of “welcome to the NFL” moment at Chiefs training camp.

“[Creed] Humphrey is a brick wall,” Norman-Lott said after being asked about the biggest challenge that he’s faced in the trenches so far.

After the comment, reporters laughed as if he were joking. But ONL quickly made sure the KC media knew he wasn’t.

“No. No. I’m not laughing,” he responded with a chuckle. “Seriously. Seriously. I’d say Creed [has been the biggest challenge so far].”

“I think it was yesterday we had a rep, and [Humphrey] was like running an outside zone play,” Norman-Lott noted later. “I was trying to move him, and I was like… ‘Damn, this dude is — he’s a brick wall.’ He’s solid, and he’s a great athlete.”

Every rookie has their welcome to the NFL moment at some point, but it sounds like Norman-Lott is holding up pretty well despite enduring his. After all, going up against the top center in football every day will only make you better.