NFL Draft grades: Willie Gay, Jr. gives Chiefs a high-ceiling playmaker on defense
The second round fell well for the Kansas City Chiefs, and their position at the end of it. In the end, their selection was incredible, adding athletic linebacker Willie Gay, Jr. from Mississippi State.
For a long time on Thursday night, Chiefs Kingdom held their breath as it looked like they might land draft darling Patrick Queen. He ended up being selected four spots ahead of Kansas City by the Baltimore Ravens.
On Friday night, it happened again, as super-talented cornerback Kristian Fulton from LSU tumbled down the second round despite being a top 20 talent in the draft. Again, fans were gut-punched when the Tennessee Titans selected the talented cover man just two spots ahed of Kansas City.
Regardless of that heartache, the Chiefs still came away with Mississippi State linebacker Willie Gay, Jr., an incredibly talented linebacker who will give the Chiefs second level a needed boost of athleticism, speed and overall talent.
"Gay has experience lining up in a variety of linebacker roles, but might not have the feel to play in the middle on the next level. He’s hard to miss on the field with his flailing arms and energetic playing style. He’s a healthy hitter once he squares and attacks ball-carriers. He lacks instincts and angles to mirror ball-carriers from the gaps to the flanks, but he does a nice job of sticking and finishing when he’s in position. His play speed and athleticism appear to be average and he has some zone cover talent. Carving out a defined role will be important if he is to make an NFL roster."
Grade: A-
I was of the belief that this was the biggest need for the Chiefs coming in to the 2020 NFL Draft. While Queen was my top target, Willie Gay, Jr. is an excellent consolation prize.
Sure, if Fulton was on the board, you’d have to go that route, but with the cornerback out of the picture, filling a long-term need at linebacker was the valuable play here. Gay can be seen as a developmental talent who might need some time to round into form, but Veach said this draft would be all about future results instead of immediate impact. Then again, it’s possible he’s able to plug and play with his natural ability. Either way, the Chiefs have the starters in place for another championship run, and the selection of Gay is all about getting a dynamic playmaker in the heart of the defense.
Well-known prospects like Zack Baun and Logan Wilson were on the board here and were also available to play linebacker, but Veach must feel good about any character concerns here. The chance to bring in a 240+ pound linebacker who runs a 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds speaks volumes about Gay’s athleticism.