2021 NFL Draft: Tight end Noah Gray is selected by KC Chiefs in fifth round

With the first of their two scheduled picks in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the K.C. Chiefs have landed some help at tight end with the selection of Noah Gray from Duke University.

The Chiefs have stated all along this offseason that they were intent on bringing in some help for Travis Kelce. The team brought back Nick Keizer as an exclusive rights free agent and paired him with a familiar face in free agent Blake Bell, who was re-signed after spending the 2020 season with the Dallas Cowboys. Gray now gives the Chiefs another young investment to include in preseason competition for important reps behind Kelce on the depth chart.

Gray had 29 catches for 285 yards and 2 touchdowns last season at Duke, a drop-off in production after putting up 51 catches and 392 yards during his junior season. He’s a well-rounded prospect with solid hands and intelligence who was also a team captain for the Blue Devils.

In order to secure Gray’s services, the Chiefs traded up 13 picks from No. 175 overall with the New York Jets in exchange for No. 162 in the fifth round. In return, the Chiefs also agreed to swap spots with the Jets later in the draft by giving them No. 207 (sixth round) for No. 226.

The K.C. Chiefs have selected Noah Gray in the fifth round.

Gray is the Chiefs fourth overall pick in the draft so far., Earlier in the second round, the team grabbed Missouri linebacker Nick Bolton and Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey. After sitting out the entire third round (due to the Orlando Brown trade), the Chiefs were back in the mix at the tail end of the fourth round and grabbed Florida State pass rusher Josh Kaindoh.