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The Kansas City Chiefs have had a busy few weeks, of course.
The 2025 National Football League Draft has come and gone and the Chiefs did a good job bolstering the offensive line. Kansas City used its first pick to select offensive tackle Josh Simmons with the No. 32 pick. The Chiefs traded back one spot with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles took Jihaad Campbell with the No. 31 pick and Kansas City got a much-needed boost for the offensive line plus draft capital.
After Simmons, the Chiefs took defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott, defensive end Ashton Gillotte, cornerback Nohl Williams, wide receiver Jalen Royals, linebacker Jeffrey Bassa, and running back Brashard Smith.
Kansas City followed up by signing 19 undrafted free agents so far. Pro Football Focus' Ben Cooper weighed on the Chiefs' deals and called offensive tackle Esa Pole the "UDFA to watch" for Kansas City.
"Kansas City Chiefs: T Esa Pole, Washington State," Cooper said. "The Chiefs’ offensive line woes in recent years have been well documented, and anyone who watched Super Bowl 59 is in the know. PFF’s 327th-ranked prospect, while not a candidate to fix Kansas City’s blocking issues right out of the gate, is an undrafted free agent to watch for the team.
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"Pole didn’t allow a sack in 2024 and was called for just five penalties across the past two seasons — two areas where the Chiefs need to be better up front. His run blocking is lacking, but at the very least, he could help fill out the depth chart with a big body at 6-foot-7 and 319 pounds."
He was projected as a seventh rounder or "PFA" by NFL analyst Lance Zierlein.
"A developmental tackle/guard prospect with NFL size, Pole should continue to improve with coaching," Zierlein said. "He has played football for just four seasons with two at the FBS level. His technique needs work but he showed clear signs of improvement and plays with adequate football intelligence. He has the lateral foot quickness to make zone blocks and mirror rush counters but doesn’t always play as powerfully as he’s built. Whether he lines up at tackle or guard at the next level, he’ll need more refinement on a practice squad early on."
Clearly, the Chiefs made a specific effort in adding offensive line depth. Will Pole make the team, though?
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