After going with offense in the first round, the Chiefs focused on defense in the second.
The Super Bowl-champion Chiefs selected Mississippi State linebacker Willie Gay Jr. with the 63rd overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft Friday night.
Given the departure of Reggie Ragland, who signed a free-agent deal with the Detroit Lions, Gay fills an immediate need at the linebacker position and could be viewed as an every-down player.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said last week that he was intrigued by the linebackers in this draft, especially those who could help out in coverage.
The 6-foot-1, 243-pound Gay has speed, evidenced by a 4.46 time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine in late February. He finished his college career with 99 tackles, six sacks, three interceptions and four passes defensed.
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will make good use of Gay’s speed and play-making abilities in his scheme.
Gay joins a linebacker group led by returning starters Anthony Hitchens and Damien Wilson, who enters a contract year. As of now, Gay projects to compete with Ben Niemann, Dorian O’Daniel, Emmanuel Smith and Darius Harris for the third starting job.
But given his draft status, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Chiefs expect Gay to start immediately.
Gay will arrive in Kansas City having left Mississippi State a year early. He couldn’t play in eight of his team’s 13 games last season because he and nine other Mississippi State players were suspended following an academic scandal.
He also reportedly brawled with freshman quarterback Garrett Shrader before the 2019 Music City Bowl. Shrader was left with a broken orbital bone.
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