The Chiefs made a number of defensive selections in this year’s NFL Draft.
For Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton, leadership means more than just calling plays; it means mentoring the next wave of players.
As the “Green Dot” on Kansas City’s defense, Bolton is already impressed with what he’s seeing from three of the team’s newest additions: second-round pick Omar Norman-Lott, third-round edge rusher Ashton Gillotte and fifth-round linebacker Jeffrey Bassa.
Early praise for Norman-Lott and Gillotte
When asked about Norman-Lott and Gillotte, Bolton didn’t hesitate to praise their maturity and preparation.
“I was super surprised, man, about how smart those guys were, how focused they were, how self-driven they were,” Bolton said. “A lot of guys are picking it up, making calls, making reads, and giving communication back to the linebackers… and they’re all doing that through their camp, but then through OTAs.”
Bolton credited both the Chiefs’ coaching staff and the players themselves for how quickly they’ve adjusted to the playbook and demands of the system.
“(Defensive line) coach Joe [Cullen] did a great job of getting them to that point,” he said. “Then the vets got here, man, and they’re just up and running, they’re clicking, they understand communication, understand concepts, what we want to do, and what we want to present to the quarterback and stuff like that.”
He added, “They’re miles ahead of where I was my rookie year, for sure.”
Bolton’s confidence stems not just from practice sessions but also from detailed film reviews.
“We had them on our iPads… and I know a play or a call by looking at it,” he said. “And those guys have maybe little to no mistakes, mental errors. As you progress, you want to limit the mental errors. Football’s not perfect, but the mental part can be.”
Gillotte’s growth and mental edge
Even without naming specific plays, Bolton could see from the rookie minicamp that Gillotte was absorbing the finer points.
“A lot of stuff they’re doing is like individual, so you see guys doing practice drops, getting eyes in the right places and eye progression,” he explained. “It’s a new scheme for them, but those small little things… those things help.”
Bolton emphasized how eye discipline and alignment play a crucial role in determining success within the Chiefs’ complex system.
“I watched this play, and you had your eyes in the wrong spot — move your eyes this way first, then go back this way. It kind of helps you with the progression and kind of get in the right spot.”
Jeffrey Bassa: the versatile, vocal hybrid
Bolton had even more to say when the topic shifted to fifth-round linebacker Jeffrey Bassa, who’s quickly become a locker room favorite.
“Yeah, Jeff Bassa, we joke around all the time,” Bolton said with a smile. “But he’s like a mix between Willie [Gay Jr.] that was here and Leo [Chenal], in terms of just stature-wise and his play style.”
According to Bolton, Bassa’s blend of intelligence, communication skills and athleticism makes him a valuable addition to the linebacker room.
“He’s done a great job communicating… as good as anybody,” Bolton said. “Also just talking to the secondary, he understands what people are doing behind him.”
Bassa’s versatility and background as a former defensive back also shine through.
“You can tell that he’s got a background as a DB,” Bolton added. “We made a joke about it one time because he’s out there playing press like a corner.”
With laughter, he recalled Bassa’s swagger in coverage: “He said when we take 31 and put 35 in there, he might switch it out a little bit. But yeah, it’s been pretty fun, man. He likes to play cover, so that would be great for us.”
Rookies ready for the moment
Bolton made it clear that all three rookies are on track to make early contributions.
“In this scheme, you’ve got to be smart, you’ve got to be versatile, you’ve got to play multiple positions,” Bolton said. “Coach Spags did a great job bringing those guys in. The IQ’s through the roof.”
Heading into training camp, Bolton isn’t just optimistic; he’s also excited.
“They’re miles ahead. And I’m excited for what those guys bring to the table.”
