Kansas City moved from picks No. 251 and No. 257 to No. 228…
Kansas City moved from picks No. 251 and No. 257 to No. 228 and selected Brashard Smith. Smith contributed 151 rushing yards and 172 receiving yards as a rookie. New England used No. 251 on long snapper Julian Ashby, who handled every regular-season game and all four postseason contests, while Kobee Minor supplied depth from No. 257. Both clubs found useful late-round roles, making the exchange remarkably balanced.
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- pick 2025 7th round pick (228th overall, Brashard Smith )
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2025 7th round pick (251st overall, Julian Ashby)
- pick 2025 7th round pick (257th overall, Kobee Minor)
Trade Analysis
What the Late-Round Swap Created
Kansas City packaged picks No. 251 and No. 257 to move up to No. 228, where it selected Brashard Smith. New England used the two acquired choices on long snapper Julian Ashby and cornerback Kobee Minor. Seventh-round trades often produce little lasting value, but this exchange is notable because all three selected players reached NFL roles of some kind during their rookie seasons.
Why Kansas City Can Like Smith
Smith gave the Chiefs a versatile backfield option. He carried 44 times for 151 yards and added 25 receptions for 172 yards and a touchdown. Those totals are not star production, but they represent meaningful offensive snaps from pick No. 228. Kansas City paid only two later seventh-rounders to target a player who could contribute in multiple phases of the offense.
How New England Matched the Return
Ashby immediately filled a specialized but important job, long snapping in all 17 regular-season games and all four postseason contests. Minor had a smaller role, appearing in four games and providing depth. The Patriots therefore turned one late pick into two roster pieces, including a player who handled a starting specialist role throughout a deep season.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Kansas City earns a B for finding useful offensive production from Smith. New England also receives a B for landing a full-season specialist plus additional depth. The different roles are difficult to compare directly, but both teams extracted more utility than is normally expected from this portion of the draft.