The Kansas City Chiefs took another swing at landing a true sack artist on the edge when they selected Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Thomas is the latest Chiefs top 100 pick at defensive end. The fraternity also includes Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Ashton Gillotte and George Karlaftis III. A new member might join next spring.
Top NFL defenses rely on waves of pass rushers with depth charts that roll three to four deep at defensive end or outside linebacker. The Chiefs believe the trio of Gillotte, Karlaftis and Thomas possesses the skill sets to fit that model. However, Gillotte and Thomas remain unproven contributors, which could push Kansas City to explore prospects like Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Anto Saka in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Saka broke onto the scene in 2023 with big sacks against Duke’s Graham Barton and Illinois’ Julian Pearl. An injury impacted the second half of his promising 2024 campaign, and his development stagnated at Northwestern in 2025. Saka transferred to Texas A&M this offseason, joining a program that produced three top 51 picks at defensive end over the past two years.
Texas A&M’s new DE Anto Saka might be one of the most feared pass rushers in the SEC this year and this is why ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ufWwGTxTry
— LandonTengwall (@LandonTengwall) March 6, 2026
Saka is an explosive athlete with the first step and straight line speed to produce quick pressures. He pushes offensive tackles vertically before using long lateral strides to attack the widening B-gap. Saka is a violent pass rusher with aggressive hands that pry open gaps and help him establish leverage.
Saka’s pass rush plan needs to expand. He still relies on many of the same core moves from early in his career, but his arsenal now includes cross-chops, humps, rips, swims, two-handed swipes and a spin counter. Saka generates enough force on contact to convert speed to power and produce pressure by driving through the offensive tackle’s frame.
Saka displays some stiffness at the top of his rush, but he offers enough bend and savvy to dip under the offensive tackle’s hands and flatten tight angles. Very few quarterbacks have the burst and speed to evade Saka once he turns the corner.
Saka lacks ideal arm length and needs to add counters and secondary rush moves to his plan of attack. His effort and violence pop on tape but technical refinement remains an area of concern. Saka often relies on his motor and athletic gifts to overwhelm linemen. Landing at Texas A&M gives him a strong chance to elevate his game and become a more complete rusher.
Saka’s work in run defense leaves a lot to be desired. His physicality results in some wins, but consistency eludes him. Saka runs himself out of plays and fails to establish gap integrity. His lack of instincts against the run and inconsistent awareness make him a below-average edge-setter. However, he offers some value as a slashing, gap-shooting athlete who creates havoc in the backfield.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs scouting report: Texas A&M Aggies DE Anto Saka
