What is the expected impact of the Kansas City Chiefs draft class?
By Matt Conner
Willie Gay, Jr., LB, Mississippi State
While expectations are very high for Edwards-Helaire, the potential for greatest impact is probably found here in the Chiefs second-round selection of linebacker Willie Gay, Jr.
Gay is an all-world athlete with character concerns that dropped him to the bottom of the second round. With limited tape on him in college, Brett Veach knew that taking a shot here in the Top 50 could yield dividends of a top 20 pick and he’s trusting the Chiefs coaching staff to get the most out of Gay’s obvious talents.
For the Chiefs, the ability to draft a linebacker with sideline-to-sideline speed and such strong coverage instincts could be the ideal cure for the team’s greatest weakness. Dorian O’Daniel has yet to grow into the role, and last year’s trade for Darron Lee was a dud in the end. Damien Wilson is passable here, but he’s better served playing downhill and Gay gives the entire unit the highest ceiling of all.
The problem here is that Gay is going to need preseason reps with the first unit in order to see how well he meshes with Anthony Hitchens and the layers above and below. If he looks good enough, the Chiefs might be willing to let him learn on the fly and absorb mistakes along the way. It’s worth it in the long run to keep him on the field if he can learn lessons in a healthy way.
Expected Impact: Very High