Ashton Gillotte is a three-dimensional pass rusher.
The Kansas City Chiefs' third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Gillotte understands that success isn’t just about physical talent. To hear the No. 66 overall selection give reasons for his success, it’s the combination of discipline, technique, and relentless effort that sets him apart from others.
“I think good things happen when you’re around the ball,” Gillotte said during his introductory press conference. “And I put a lot of effort on the field.
"The great rushers, they hit, obviously, physical, they’re fast," he continued. "The thing that separates a lot of people is your discipline, your technique, and your effort. Those are things you just can’t, you can’t negotiate.”
The Chiefs' third-round pick reveals the key elements behind his success—effort, discipline, and something else you might not expect.
Gillotte's philosophy on the field is rooted in his understanding of the game. While his athleticism and strength are obvious pillars to his play, he's also an intelligent player who knows how to communicate with teammates and adjust on the fly, He’s determined to bring that well-rounded approach to Kansas City’s defense.
“For me, that’s what’s allowed me to do is obviously playing within our scheme, knowing, okay, well, this guy has my back on the inside. So, on this play, I’ll cover him or he’ll cover me. And just being able to play like that, that’s how you get sacks. That’s how you get production.”
Gillotte’s approach to his craft paid off in a big way during his stint at Louisville. In four seasons, he recorded 26.5 sacks and 41 tackles for loss, earning First-Team All-ACC honors in 2023 after a standout year with 11 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss.
"This kid plays 100 miles an hour. I mean, he is everything you want in a football player, from makeup to how he plays the game, inside, outside," said Mike Bradway, Senior Director of Player Personnel for the Chiefs, during his post-draft press conference.
"We graded these guys' character, and there's a kind of rare category that not many players get to. And just with the kind of person he is—not just the football character, you know?—just the work ethic, the leadership, the coachability, just the person he is," Bradway continued.
While the Chiefs have a deep defensive well on the edges and Gillotte is only a rookie, such a comprehensive approach to the position should get the Chiefs' third-round pick onto the field sooner than later.