KC Chiefs hoping for sophomore step up from ’21 rookies

Noah Gray

Noah Gray is a bit of an unknown quantity, but that’s nothing personal against him. The same can be said of basically every tight end who is forced to play behind Travis Kelce.

The Chiefs grabbed Gray in the fifth round (the first of two such selections) out of Duke because of two primary qualities: his elite hands and his teachability. Coaches raved about his motor and his ability to take in whatever he’s told to do, and the combination here could come into play in a meaningful way for the Chiefs in the ’22 season if Gray is now ready to apply everything he learned in year one from the Chiefs.

Kelce is still very much central to this offense and that might be even more so with Tyreek Hill traded to the Miami Dolphins. However, the bigger picture should feature a bit more rest for Kelce as he continues to climb higher into his mid-thirties. If Gray can provide a solid pass catcher with a more well-rounded skill set in the lineup, then the team might be able to give Kelce fewer reps in what is an increasingly long season in the NFL.

There’s plenty of competition here, however, including Jody Fortson returning from injury and Blake Bell who was re-signed for another year. There are also other prospects hoping to crash the party, but Gray holds the inside edge here as a former draftee who could make good on Veach’s belief in his skill set.

Gray played in 26 percent of all offensive snaps in 16 games last season for the Chiefs. That sort of experience should help him gain some ground in ’22.