He was a safety once. You can still see it when he moves.
When the Kansas City Chiefs called Jeffrey Bassa’s name with the 156th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, a lot of people just saw another fifth-round linebacker. Another special teams body. But if you actually watched what Bassa did at Oregon—how he evolved from a skinny defensive back into the "Green Dot" heartbeat of Dan Lanning’s defense—you know the Chiefs might have just pulled off a daylight robbery.
The NFL loves a hybrid. Coaches obsess over guys who can cover a tight end on third down but won't blink when a 240-pound fullback is barreling through the A-gap. Jeffrey Bassa is exactly that kind of headache for an opposing offensive coordinator.
The Transition That Changed Everything
Most guys switch positions because they aren't fast enough for the secondary or they're too small for the trenches. Bassa moved because he was too valuable to keep off the field.
Back in 2021, he arrived in Eugene as a four-star safety from Utah. He was 200 pounds soaking wet. By the time he left, he was a 230-pound wrecking ball with the instincts of a veteran quarterback. That transition wasn't just about hitting the weight room; it was about learning the geometry of the front seven.
Honestly, it’s rare to see a player maintain his fluid hips after packing on 30 pounds of muscle. Bassa did it. He finished his Oregon career with 236 total tackles, but the numbers don't tell the full story of his 2023 Fiesta Bowl MVP performance or the way he earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors.
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Why the NFL Was Split on Him
The draft process is clinical. It’s cold.
Scouts looked at Bassa and saw a "tweener." At 6'1" and 232 pounds, he doesn't have the prototypical bulk of a classic middle linebacker. During the 2025 NFL Combine, he clocked a 4.63-second 40-yard dash. It's a solid time, but it didn't break the internet.
Some teams worried he’d get washed out by NFL-sized offensive linemen. If a 320-pound guard gets his hands on Bassa, the rep is basically over. He doesn't have the elite "stack and shed" power yet.
But then you talk to the guys who played against him. At the Senior Bowl in Mobile, the offensive linemen and running backs voted him the top linebacker on the National squad. They’re the ones who felt his "wicked" spin move and his ability to time a blitz like a Swiss watch.
Jeffrey Bassa's Scouting Profile at a Glance
- Height: 6'1"
- Weight: 232 lbs
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.63 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 38.5 inches
- Strength: Elite coverage versatility and pre-snap communication.
- Weakness: Can struggle to disengage from power blockers in the run game.
The Kansas City Fit
Steve Spagnuolo doesn't care about "prototypical." He cares about "useful."
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In Kansas City, Bassa entered a room led by Nick Bolton. It’s the perfect spot for him. Bolton has already gone on record saying Bassa reminds him of a mix between Willie Gay Jr. and Leo Chenal. That is high praise in the Chiefs Kingdom.
Bassa spent his rookie year (2025) doing exactly what fifth-rounders should do: dominate on special teams and wait for the "sub-package" calls. He played in all 17 games, recording 15 tackles and a forced fumble. He didn't start a single game, but he was always there.
He’s the type of player who makes a tackle on a kickoff and then stays on the field for a nickel package because the defense needs someone who can mirror a running back like Bijan Robinson or Christian McCaffrey.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Game
There's this narrative that Bassa is just a "chase" linebacker. People think he’s only good if he’s running sideways.
That’s kinda lazy.
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If you watch the 2024 tape against Ohio State or Michigan, you see a guy who triggers downhill with zero hesitation. He isn't just a finesse player. He’s a "trigger" player. He trusts his eyes. Sometimes he trusts them too much and runs himself out of a play—a "robotic" tendency some scouts noted—but you’d rather have a guy who plays too fast than a guy who’s scared to miss.
What’s Next for Jeffrey Bassa?
The jump from Year 1 to Year 2 is where players like Bassa usually explode. He has the "green dot" experience from Oregon, meaning he can eventually call the plays if needed.
For Bassa to become a full-time starter in the NFL, the checklist is short but difficult:
- Add Functional Bulk: He needs to get to a playing weight of 238-240 without losing that 38.5-inch vertical explosion.
- Hand Fighting: He has to get better at "winning" the first contact with climbing linemen.
- Consistency in Zone: While his man-to-man skills are great for a linebacker, his spatial awareness in deep zone drops still has room to grow.
He isn't a finished product, and that’s the exciting part. Most fifth-round picks are who they are. Bassa is still ascending. If you're looking for a dark horse to lead the Chiefs in tackles three years from now, don't look at the first-rounders. Look at the guy who used to be a safety.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Evaluators:
Keep a close eye on the Chiefs' defensive rotation during the 2026 preseason. Specifically, watch Bassa's alignment in "Dime" packages (six defensive backs). If Spagnuolo is using him as a lone linebacker in passing situations, it means the coaching staff trusts his coverage logic more than any veteran on the roster. For dynasty fantasy football players, Bassa is a "stash and hold" candidate who will likely see a massive uptick in defensive snaps by mid-2026.