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KC Chiefs: Defensive players to watch in training camp

By Evan Mead

Nov 8, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay Jr. (50) is introduced before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay Jr. (50) is introduced before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 22: Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. #50 of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up before the NFL game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 22, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Chiefs defeated the Raiders 35-31. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 22: Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. #50 of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up before the NFL game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 22, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Chiefs defeated the Raiders 35-31. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off a bad loss to the Buccaneers in the Super Bowl, but after making several offseason moves and having some younger players earn more experience, they should be in for another good season.

Although they let a couple players walk in free agency, the Chiefs had a very good draft and free agency period, but the acquisitions helped the offense more than the defense. So what could you expect from the Chiefs this season given the difficulty of schedule they will be facing?

Looking at some of the names that Chiefs let go of in free agency may speak more to the confidence they have in some of the rookies or second-year players than it does them wanting to let the player go. Looking ahead to this season, there are a few names that they have on the defense who could become big factors this season.

Here are the names I feel will be a surprising part of the defense for this season:

Willie Gay, LB

This one probably isn’t much of a surprise to most Chiefs fans, but Gay still needs to be mentioned. The second-year linebacker was drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Chiefs.

Out of the draft class, this was far and away my favorite pick they made. Ranked as a top five linebacker for me, he was able to do it all for Mississippi State. With great coverage ability, strong run stopping ability up the middle, positional versatility and sound instincts, he could be the Chiefs best linebacker since Derrick Johnson.

Gay showed enough promise in his rookie seaso to believe he could possibly be the best linebacker on the Chiefs roster at this point. Going into his second season with the Chiefs, he is likely going to be taking a much bigger role this season. He has all the tools that are needed to become a franchise linebacker and possibly even a top 10 linebacker in the league. His upside and ceiling are incredibly high, but he can definitely reach it.

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