Cameron

Thomas

The Chiefs added help at edge rusher, acquiring Cam Thomas from the Cardinals. Thomas was a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and has played in 32 games over two seasons in Arizona. He tallied three sacks as a rookie and none last season, though he did have a fumble recovery touchdown. He could add value as a rotational pass rusher for the Chiefs defense, which will be without fellow pass rusher Charles Omenihu for the beginning of the season. Omenihu tore his ACL in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory and is currently on the PUP list. Thomas gets a fresh start with the reigning back-to-back champions.

Thomas (6’4/265) is a versatile defender who played all over the line during his Aztec career, posting an exceptional 86.0 defensive grade with 37 pressures in his lone full-time season on the interior. Though he never abandoned the interior altogether, Thomas excelled on the edge last season to the tune of an FBS leading 73 pressures, 71 tackles (second-most among linemen) with 20.5 TFLs (third) and 11.5 sacks. The second-team All-American and MWC DPOY dominated just about every offensive line in his wake, generating at least four pressures in every game last season. He has a developed move set with enough punch and quickness to keep blockers from sitting on his bull rush. A little stiff in the hips, he isn’t going to bend the edge in a traditional sense, but his effort is relentless. Thomas has the upside to become a core defensive contributor.