KC Chiefs vs. 49ers: Three players who can cement their stock

Noah Gray, Tight End

Noah Gray already has a roster spot, so there’s little in the way of competition here compared to our previous entry in Devon Key. That said, we’re still quite excited to see how Gray looks in the preseason for other reasons.

So far in training camp, most days have produced rave reviews about the team’s newest tight end, a fifth round pick out of Duke University. Gray came into the organization as a solid pass catcher with strong reviews of his hands, his route-running, his intelligence, and his work ethic. Since his arrival, everyone else has spoken highly of him, saying he’s taking to the playbook very well.

The on-field evidence has been clear, too, as Gray has shown very good hands and the potential to be a sneaky-good target for Patrick Mahomes even as a rookie. As the season gets longer with 17 games, the Chiefs are going to have to figure out ways to give Travis Kelce a rest while maintaining offensive momentum.

If Gray can substitute in for a series or two each game, or even pair with Kelce on exciting two-tight end sets, this team has a new offensive wrinkle with which to frustrate opponents. We might start to see that potential against the Niners on Saturday night.