

One night after making a move to shore up their offensive line, the Kansas City Chiefs turned their attention to the other side of the ball and drafted Tennessee defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott with the 31st pick of the second round Friday night.
Highly disruptive and explosive as a rotational player for the Volunteers, Norman-Lott will join a defensive line that features perennial Pro Bowler Chris Jones and fourth-year pro George Karlaftis. Some analysts regard Norman-Lott as a bit undersized at 6-foot-1, 291 pounds. But he has impressive strength to go with athleticism and a relentless motor.
‘The Beast’ breakdown
Simmons ranked No. 20 in Dane Brugler’s top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:
Often the first defender to cross the line of scrimmage, Norman-Lott is a twitched-up big man with a diverse skill set to win one-on-one matchups with quickness, power or leverage. He uses sound hand/move fundamentals but leaves a lot of tackle production on the field and needs to play with better control. Overall, Norman-Lott is an explosive disruptor and offers high upside for a coaching staff that can harness his energy, although he will need to improve his undisciplined tendencies, especially in the run game. There is no doubt about his NFL talent, but his ability to handle more of a full-time role is a tricky projection.
Omarr Norman-Lott is your guy if you’re looking for a quick gap shooting 3T. Has flashes of good hand usage too pic.twitter.com/E9ZCAh7LZd
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) April 15, 2025
Scott Dochterman grades the pick
Norman-Lott is the ultimate boom-or-bust defensive lineman in this draft. He flashes plenty of athletic ability and potential to make big plays, as demonstrated by 9 1/2 sacks the last two seasons. But he didn’t pick up a single start in 2024 and averaged just 17.3 snaps per game. Based on athletic ability, Norman-Lott could start for a decade. Based on precedent, he also could be out of the league in three years. A little high for that type of risk.
Grade: C-minus
How he fits
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is known for his creativity and will find ways to work Norman-Lott into the rotation. The 30-year-old Jones is the unquestioned tone-setter of the group. But the Chiefs have worked to continue to infuse their defensive front with young talent.
Depth-chart impact
Norman-Lott didn’t start for Tennessee, so it seems unlikely that he would do so for the Chiefs. But he’ll likely have an active role as Spagnuolo loves to rotate his linemen to keep them fresh and intensify the pressure on opposing linemen and quarterbacks. Jones moves all along the line, and the Chiefs signed veteran Jerry Tillery in free agency. Adding Norman-Lott to the mix strengthens the rotation.
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They also could have picked …
Florida State’s Joshua Farmer or Oregon’s Jamaree Caldwell are among the defensive tackles rated similarly. Florida’s Cam Jackson also could have received consideration.
Fast evaluation
Norman-Lott is an intriguing prospect with versatility and explosiveness that will serve the Chiefs well. He can learn from the veterans and his masterful defensive coordinator and carve out a key role.
(Photo: Angelina Alcantar / News Sentinel / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
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