Story from NFL war room reveals how Chiefs beat two teams to the punch in draft
When the third round of the NFL Draft started on Friday night, the Jacksonville Jaguars were ready to pounce.
The Athletic’s Michael Silver wrote about the scene inside the Jaguars’ war room under new general manager James Gladstone. That story revealed the Jaguars had been hoping to get either Central Florida running back RJ Harvey or Louisville pass rusher Ashton Gillotte in the third round.
But the Broncos selected Harvey in the second round, so perhaps Gillotte would be their man. The Jaguars, however, also were discussing possible trades with the Rams and Lions in the third round. Those teams wanted to move up.
“Now there were three scenarios: Try to close the trade with the Lions; accept the trade with the Rams; or stand pat and take the player they wanted,” Silver noted.
Unfortunately for the Jaguars, the Chiefs scuttled their plans and apparently those of the Rams.
“Before the discussion could begin in earnest,” Silver wrote, “a collective groan filled the room: The Kansas City Chiefs, with a pick acquired from the Titans in last year’s trade for cornerback L’Jarius Snead, snagged Gillotte with the second pick of the round. With the Jags’ selection just four picks away, quick decisions had to be made.”
When it was the Jaguars’ turn to pick, the Athletic story notes, the Lions were still ready to make a deal. But the Rams...
Silver wrote: “’Seconds later, Gladstone fielded a phone call and grimaced. ‘The Rams are out,’ he said. ‘Guess who they wanted? Gillotte.’”
Both the Rams and Jaguars struck out on Gillotte, so Jacksonville ended up making a trade with the Lions and moved back in the draft. Detroit then picked wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.
This story was originally published May 1, 2025 at 8:54 AM.
