*****The Noah Gray Thread*****

[Dante84]

Surprise! More to come!

Spoiler!

The former all-state pick from Massachusetts played quarterback his junior year at Leominster High School. He started once in 12 appearances as a sophomore (20 receptions, 234 yards, 11.7 average, one touchdown) and also contributed in 13 games as a reserve (five receptions, 37 yards, two touchdowns) his first year in Durham. Gray stepped into the NFL draft spotlight as a junior, garnering second-team All-ACC honors by leading the Blue Devils in receptions and finishing among the top FBS tight ends with 51 catches for 392 yards (7.7 per) and three scores. The 2020 team captain played in 10 games with nine starts as a senior (29 receptions, 285 yards, 9.8 average, two touchdowns), becoming the school's all-time leading receiver at tight end. He accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl. -- by Chad Reuter

Overview
Gray understands leverage and how to create some tilt in coverage but doesn't have play speed or separation burst to do enough with it. While he's not going to have the size or strength to block defenders when firing off the ball, he has enough athleticism and grit to offer some assistance as a move blocker from the slot or wing position. He has late-round potential and could find a team fit as a TE3/4.
Strengths

• Team captain.
• Helps out in pass protection with decent mirror and technique.
• Will stick and sustain as a slot blocker.
• Reads the track properly when asked to lead block.
• Slick footwork and leverage in his routes.
• Ability to run more complex routes underneath.
• Spins open suddenly in space against zone.
• Sharp angles out of his turns.
• Adjustment and focus to bring the throw in.

Weaknesses

• Just nine yards per reception during career.
• Thin through waist and hips with lean lower body.
• Lacks threatening vertical push off the line.
• Moves well but doesn't separate much.
• Might not have ability to attack the seam.
• Lacks agility on the move when working at the second level.
• Gets overtaken by force at point of attack as blocker.

How can you not get fired up after getting off the phone with EB �� @noahgray87 pic.twitter.com/dZJ7Zy1vwV

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) May 1, 2021

[UChieffyBugger]

Noah apparently ran a 4:55 40 yard dash...Travis ran 4:61 and Kittle ran 4:52 so along with his agility and wiggle Noah could be very decent in space after the catch. And learning routes from Trav is gonna be great for the kid. Honestly he could be very special if things go his way imo.

[Dunerdr]

Originally Posted by UChieffyBugger

Noah apparently ran a 4:55 40 yard dash...Travis ran 4:61 and Kittle ran 4:52 so along with his agility and wiggle Noah could be very decent in space after the catch. And learning routes from Trav is gonna be great for the kid. Honestly he could be very special if things go his way imo.

Man rookie Travis looked faster than that in preseason, but it was preseason.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by UChieffyBugger

Noah apparently ran a 4:55 40 yard dash...Travis ran 4:61 and Kittle ran 4:52 so along with his agility and wiggle Noah could be very decent in space after the catch. And learning routes from Trav is gonna be great for the kid. Honestly he could be very special if things go his way imo.

Yep, Kelce will help him grow into the TE2 position. These guys are going to dominate.

[Dante84]

I mean, ya gotta think he’s going to be better than Keizer, RSJ, Yelder, Dumbasstrius, McGrath, etc…

That alone is a win. He doesn’t even need to be good so much as he needs to be not bad, and better than average is a bonus. If he’s good, well, oh okay then, goddamn.

[JohnnyHammersticks]

Originally Posted by MAHOMO 4 LIFE!

Kelce is one of this players where he gets better with age. Aside from missing his first season. The only injury he’s ever had was a concussion during a playoff game. Other than that he’s durable as hell.

One of my all-time favorite Chiefs. Easily top 5.

As durable as he's been, any player is one play away from a season-ending injury. Having that much riding on one player - other than QB obviously - is a recipe for disaster. I said before the draft that we really needed to get someone who can step in if God forbid something happens to Kelce. Watched a lot of tape on the top and mid tier TEs but totally missed Gray. You never know how it will translate to the NFL, but Gray's tape compares more than adequately with any of the guys I looked into. Probably why Veach is our GM and not me.

[saphojunkie]

Kelce is so damn good he makes Tony Gonzales look pedestrian.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Dante84

I mean, ya gotta think he’s going to be better than Keizer, RSJ, Yelder, Dumbasstrius, McGrath, etc…

That alone is a win. He doesn’t even need to be good so much as he needs to be not bad, and better than average is a bonus. If he’s good, well, oh okay then, goddamn.

Those first three guys are one thing, but Dumbasstrius and McGrath at least reached bare minimum in terms of having actual NFL careers and who weren't albatrosses when they had to play offensive snaps.

I'm as excited for Grey as anybody, but he could just as easily be James O'Shaughnessy as he could be a decent Kelce counterpart.

No, I highly doubt he'll be as bad as Keizer, but he's a midround pick, just like O'Shaughnessy was. Does a lot of the same stuff he did, too. I'm not gonna crown his ass just yet, and by "crown his ass" I mean just sticking around on the active roster for more than two years, playing decent special teams, and not ****ing up when his number gets called.

[Easy 6]

Shags actually managed to put together a fairly respectable 7 year career, if Gray can do that its all win

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Shags actually managed to put together a fairly respectable 7 year career, if Gray can do that its all win

Absolutely.

Just... he was kind of worthless for us. Granted, we're the ones who cut him, but we cut him because there were other players we wanted to keep on the team. Hopefully Gray is better than Shags.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

Absolutely.

Just... he was kind of worthless for us. Granted, we're the ones who cut him, but we cut him because there were other players we wanted to keep on the team. Hopefully Gray is better than Shags.

Gray is almost certainly the more dynamic athlete, no worries there

His highlights really do show a smooth route runner with good feel for finding holes in zone coverage

[CoMoChief]

I miss Jason Dunn

Dude was a ****in Mack truck on the field.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

I miss Jason Dunn

Dude was a ****in Mack truck on the field.

Not many JDs left in todays NFL, extra linemen with limited versatility are now dinosaurs

[Jamie]

It probably doesn't get mentioned enough with the Shields/Roaf line that we also had the best blocking TE and a top 2 fullback.

[kcclone]

Gray looks the part but his numbers at Duke were a joke. Hopefully that’s because Duke doesn’t know how to use TE’s.

[R Clark]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Not many JDs left in todays NFL, extra linemen with limited versatility are now dinosaurs

I’d think that description would fit all are tight ends not named Travis or Tony