R Mason Thomas Complements a Chiefs Pass Rush That Still Needs Help

Selecting R Mason Thomas gives the Chiefs an off-speed pitch at defensive end, but is another pass rusher needed before Week 1?

Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oklahoma defensive lineman R Mason Thomas (DL60) speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

In the 2026 NFL Draft, general manager Brett Veach did a nice job addressing some needs and injecting the Kansas City Chiefs' roster with quality young talent.

To many, though, it was an uncharacteristic draft for Kansas City. The team added multiple players who aren't traditional archetype fits, and second-round pick R Mason Thomas may headline that group.

With the Oklahoma defensive end now in the fold, what does he bring to the Chiefs? Should Veach add even more juice to the depth chart this offseason? Joshua Brisco and Seth Keysor discussed all of that and more on the latest episode of the Only Weird Games podcast on KC Sports Network.

R Mason Thomas gives the Chiefs something they don't typically have

You've heard it before, and you may continue to hear it countless more times despite the team deviating a bit recently: defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has a type.

At the end spot, in particular, Spagnuolo has historically opted for players who are sturdy and long while being quality run defenders. Thomas, all 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds of him, is the opposite of that. He also has sub-32-inch arms — another perceived red flag in Chiefs circles.

Despite that, Thomas could be precisely what the team needs. He's a speed and bend-based rusher who, per Pro Football Focus, logged 63 pressures and 13 quarterback hits in his final two seasons with the Sooners. He wins differently than someone like George Karlaftis or Ashton Gillotte.

That might just make him a nice complement to what's primarily a power-centric group (aside from Felix Anudike-Uzomah).

Will the Chiefs opt for a rotation-based pass rush in 2026?

One thing regarding the defensive end room is obvious: Karlaftis is the leader. He'll continue to command significant snaps and is coming off a year that saw him log 763 of them on defense, good for 73.4% of those available.

With Charles Omenihu (568 snaps) and Mike Danna (389 snaps) leaving town, though, that opens the door for someone else to assume an increased role. 2025 NFL Draft pick Gillotte could be the man for the job come Week 1, but don't expect him to net Karlaftis-level playing time.

Thomas makes sense as a sub-package or late-down rusher. His athletic profile could play well in those scenarios. Anudike-Uzomah is also in a contract year and figures to finally be healthy. Behind Karlaftis, perhaps the Chiefs have a rotating cast of characters.

More help could still be needed before the season

Tying into that last point, is the current group good enough? This writer doesn't necessarily believe so, even after the interior defensive line was also improved.

Maybe first-round tackle Peter Woods shades over in his alignment or All-Pro Chris Jones rushes from the outside, but piecemealing everything together is risky. On a more traditional front, Gillotte's rookie year showed that he needed some work. Anudike-Uzomah is a complete wild card, and Thomas projects as a part-time player in 2026-27.

There are still some intriguing veteran names out there, such as Joey Bosa and Jadeveon Clowney. Joshua Brisco of Chiefs On SI recently made the case for longtime New Orleans Saints star Cameron Jordan, too.

Something to round out the room may be of serious utility.

Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram for the latest news.