Late within the second spherical of the NFL Draft, defensive tackles like Tyleik Williams of Ohio State and Alfred Collins of Texas had already come off the board, whereas Toledo’s Darius Alexander was nonetheless out there. These have been a number of the high-profile gamers that Kansas Metropolis Chiefs followers had been anticipating the crew to amass to enhance its defensive inside.
However Kansas Metropolis used the 63rd total choose to get Tennessee defensive sort out Omarr Norman-Lott. Whereas he wasn’t the participant many followers anticipated, the Chiefs had been eyeing him.
“His get-off is without doubt one of the prime on this class,” director of participant personnel and school scouting Ryne Nutt stated of Norman-Lott on Monday. “He can stand up the sphere and use his arms. He’s received a transfer array. In order a rusher, [he] was very intriguing.”
So far as the Chiefs’ have been involved, Norman-Lott may change a few of what the crew misplaced with the departure of Tershawn Wharton, who signed a three-year cope with the Carolina Panthers in free company.
“He’s received some similarities to Turk,” stated Nutt. “He’s larger — [and] he’s not as quick — however their taking part in model could be very related. This child was like 99th percentile by way of rush win fee; he was one of many prime defensive tackles in successful one-on-one move rushes. And that’s what we — first off — want. And that’s what we noticed may add worth.”
Nutt reminded his listeners that on the NFL Scouting Mix, Norman-Lott checked in at 6 toes 2 and 291 kilos, with 33 3/4-inch arms and 10 3/4-inch arms — after which turned in a 31.5-inch vertical bounce and a 9-foot-5 broad bounce.
“These guys go fast,” defined Nutt. “We all know they go fast — and an inside man that may rush as properly [will] go even faster.”
And that put him on basic supervisor Brett Veach’s radar.
“Earlier than the draft — [and] earlier than that spherical,” recalled Nutt, “Brett was fairly adamant: ‘OK, he’s one in all these guys now we have to think about.’ We put up an inventory of 4 or 5 guys. He was one in all them. He ended up being one of many prime guys left — and that was a place of want as properly.”
The crew is properly conscious that, not like a number of the different defensive tackles out there within the draft, Norman-Lott (who performed simply 26% of Tennessee’s defensive snaps in 2024, per PFF) was principally used as a move rusher in sub-packages. However in line with Nutt, that’s simply what the Chiefs want.
“We really feel like he can are available and assist out — [and] assist rush the passer,” maintained Nutt. “He didn’t begin a ton [during] his profession there at Tennessee, but it surely’s actually what you do with snaps — they usually rotate rather a lot. So actually, it’s simply what he does in these 20 to 25 snaps a recreation. The child [has a] excessive motor. He was extremely productive and extremely disruptive. And people are the issues we search for.”
The crew additionally believes that Norman-Lott is strolling into the fitting scenario with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and defensive position coach Joe Cullen.
“He’ll be with coach Cullen,” famous Nutt, “one of the best defensive position coach within the NFL, I imagine. He’ll be capable of get that out of him — and I believe extra, even, in opposition to the run… We’re excited to get this child and work with him — as a result of we predict there’s a ton of potential.”
