The Kansas City Chiefs added to their pass-rush on Friday night, selecting former Oklahoma edge-rusher R Mason Thomas with the No. 40 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Here are five things to know about the Chiefs' newest edge-rusher.

1. Thomas piled up some big-time production over the last two seasons.

The 6-foot-2, 241-pound Thomas racked up 22 tackles-for-loss, 15.5 sacks and four forced fumbles over his last 23 games, earning All-SEC honors in back-to-back seasons to wrap up his collegiate career.

His advanced metrics were impressive, too. Among edge-rushers with at least 190 pass-rush snaps, Thomas' pass-rush "grade" ranked 15th in the FBS according to Pro Football Focus. Additionally, Thomas' 35.1% pass-rush "win rate" ranked ninth among all FBS edge-rushers with at least 150 pass-rush snaps.

2. He's among the most explosive edge-rushers in this year's class.

Thomas fires off the edge like a rocket, and he often did so against top-tier competition.

Looking at last season specifically, Thomas tallied six pressures against South Carolina, four against Ole Miss, three against Alabama, three against Auburn and two against Michigan. Overall, Thomas averaged 2.7 pressures-per-game over the last two years.

Here's more on his pass-rush ability from The Athletic's Dane Brugler:

"As a pass rusher, Thomas is an explosive athlete who can win high-side with bend or treat blockers like practice sleds with leveraged speed to power."

It should also come as no surprise that Thomas was a high school track star, logging an 11.75-second 100-meter dash.

3. Thomas plays with incredible energy and effort.

The 21-year-old Thomas embraces a "never quit" mentality, even if his initial rush doesn't get to the quarterback.

For example, check out Thomas' pursuit on this play (via Todd McShay):

When asked about his effort and desire following his selection, his answer was simple:

"It's all about being relentless."

4. Yes, his given name is "R Mason."

For those wondering, the "R" in Thomas' name is a standalone letter.

Here's more from Dane Brugler:

"Thomas went by 'Mason' most of his life until his junior year of high school, when he embraced his given name, R Mason. His mother's family has a lineage of male first names that start with the letter 'R,' but she liked the name Mason (the "R" isn't an abbreviation for anything; there is no period after it).

5. Thomas is a native of Pompano Beach, Florida.

Thomas starred at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale, leading the team to a state title as a senior. His collective performance led to a competitive recruiting process before he ultimately landed at Oklahoma.

He later had opportunities to transfer for a considerable NIL package, but Thomas remained loyal to the Sooners throughout his four years there. Now a member of the Chiefs, Thomas is headed to Kansas City to join Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's pass-rush.