​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 stands as the latest Chiefs top-100 pick at defensive end, joining a fraternity that already includes Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Ashton Gillotte, and George Karlaftis III. A new member could join this elite group next spring. Top NFL defenses rely on waves of pass rushers, with depth charts that roll three to four players 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. Yet, Gillotte and Thomas remain unproven contributors, which could push Kansas City to explore additional prospects like Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Anto Saka in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Saka first emerged in 2023 with disruptive sacks against Duke’s Graham Barton and Illinois’ Julian Pearl. An injury affected the second half of his promising 2024 season, and his development stalled at Northwestern in 2025. He transferred to Texas A&M this offseason, joining a program that has produced three top-51 defensive end picks over the past two years. Saka is an explosive athlete with a quick first step and straight-line speed capable of producing rapid pressures. He drives offensive tackles vertically before using long lateral strides to attack the widening B-gap. Saka is a violent pass rusher, employing aggressive hands to pry open gaps and establish leverage.
However, Saka’s pass-rush plan needs expansion. He still relies on many of the core moves from the early stages of his career, but his repertoire now includes cross-chops, humps, rips, swims, two-handed swipes, and a spin counter. He generates enough force on contact to convert speed to power and pressure the quarterback by driving through the tackle’s frame. While Saka displays some stiffness at the top of his rush, he offers enough bend and savvy to dip under the tackle’s hands and flatten tight angles. Very few quarterbacks have the burst and speed to evade him once he turns the corner. Yet Saka lacks ideal arm length and needs to add counters and secondary rush moves to his repertoire. His effort and violence are evident on tape, but technical refinement remains a concern. Often, he 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 run defense leaves more to be desired. His physicality yields some wins, but consistency is inconsistent. He can chase plays down and sometimes run himself out of position, failing to establish solid gap integrity. A lack of instincts against the run and inconsistent awareness can leave him as a below-average edge-setter at times. Nevertheless, he offers value as a slashing, gap-shooting athlete who can create chaos in the backfield. This background makes him an intriguing developmental project for a Chiefs defense that values versatility and depth along the edge.
This article, originally featured on Chiefs Wire, examines the scouting report for Texas A&M’s An for potential alignment with Kansas City’s long-term plans. With the Chiefs continually seeking to bolster their pass rush, the addition of another dynamic edge defender in Saka could provide the versatility and depth needed to sustain a multi-faceted, pressure-heavy approach across multiple seasons. By maintaining an emphasis on players who can contribute as situational rushers while developing into full-time contributors, Kansas City aims to sustain the kind of aggressive, relentless defense that has defined their strategy in recent years.