Oklahoma edge R Mason Thomas goes to Chiefs at No. 40 overall
By David Wasson
Published:
Former Oklahoma edge rusher R Mason Thomas was taken by the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 40 overall pick on Friday night.
Thomas’ selection was announced at the podium in Pittsburgh by Chiefs legend Bill Maas, Kansas City’s No. 5 overall selection in 1984 out of Pitt and a Chiefs Hall of Fame defensive end.
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The 6-foot-2, 241-pound Thomas racked up second-team All-SEC honors in his junior and senior seasons at Oklahoma. Thomas recorded 13 solo tackles, nine sacks and two fumble recoveries in 2024 and backed it up with 18 solo stops with 6½ sacks and a fumble recovery in 2025. Two of those three fumble recoveries went for touchdowns.
The Chiefs, who ranked 10th in pass rush defense last season largely due to Chris Jones in the middle, need depth on the edge. Thomas brings his high motor to Kansas City and will battle with last year’s third-round pick Ashton Gillotte for the starting edge role opposite George Karlaftis.
Thomas is the first Sooner to come off the draft board in 2026, and is the highest Oklahoma pick since tackle Tyler Guyton went in the first round in 2024.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
