R Mason Thomas is already proving the Chiefs stole a 1st-round talent out of Oklahoma

The Kansas City Chiefs are learning what Oklahoma fans tried to tell them about edge rusher R Mason Thomas back in April. The dude is going to be one of your favorite players on defense.

Thomas slipped a bit in the 2026 NFL Draft to the second round, where the Chiefs snagged him with the 40th overall pick. Right then, OU fans immediately knew the Chiefs had just lucked into a first-round talent using a second-pick, and just two preseason games later and throughout training camp, Thomas has already shown that.

Thomas didn't post eye-popping stats in the Chiefs' preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday with a pass deflection and a quarterback hit, but the tape clearly shows he was much more disruptive than numbers can prove. The way he plays isn't anything different from what he did while wearing crimson and crimson despite jumping to the next level.

He was all over the field and consistently in the backfield all game. His pass deflection against fellow former Sooner Baker Mayfield really caught everyone's attention and was mere inches away from being a defensive touchdown for Thomas. It showed off the instincts he already has as a rookie to not only blow past a blocker, but also read the pass and get his hands up in time against a veteran QB.

Plays like the ones below don't go down on the stat sheet but are exactly what you want from an edge rusher. Forced incompletions should probably be a defensive stat, and Thomas was definitely the reason these passes weren't completed.

R Mason Thomas' strong preseason should earn him a larger role in Kansas City

This wasn't just one good day for Thomas, either. Some were hesitant to overreact from his debut in the Chiefs' first preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams. He recorded two total tackles, a pass deflection and a quarterback hit while once again being all over the field. Thomas might have had two less tackles on the stat sheet Saturday, but he looked even better in his second outing and it's clear he's far from reaching his ceiling yet.

This early success could be credited to his 42 career games with 20 starts between his four seasons at OU. He was a Second-Team All-American by the Associated Press and AFCA, and was First-Team All-SEC in 2025, even after missing three games with a hamstring injury. Two of those seasons being in the SEC had him even more prepared for NFL trenches.

Thomas got to Kansas City ready to contribute immediately. The Chiefs' ideal situation was adding a much-needed pass rusher to the rotation, but if Thomas keeps impressing like this, he could become a vital part of Kansas City's defense sooner than later.

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