Tag: Willie Gay Jr.

Saints free agent profile: How Willie Gay Jr. impacts 2024 draft strategy

Willie Gay Jr. gives the Saints a burst of athleticism in the front seven. How does his signing impact the Saints’ draft strategy?

Willie Gay Jr. is another young free agent who comes over to the New Orleans Saints. When the Kansas City Chiefs drafted him out of Mississippi State, Gay’s athleticism was one of his biggest strengths. That aspect of the linebacker’s game carried over to the pros. His time with the Chiefs, however, ended with changes in position and snap count.

Gay brings athleticism to a defense that severely lacked it a year ago, specifically in the front seven. Dennis Allen has made it clear Gay is here to compete with Pete Werner for the starting weak side linebacker spot. Gay’s experience in both outside linebacker roles will lead to him being a starter for the Saints in 2024.

Demario Davis, Werner and Gay will be your starting linebackers in base formation, but the battle between Werner and Gay will determine who is on the field in the Saints more utilized two linebacker set.

New Orleans shouldn’t think of linebacker until the late rounds or with undrafted free agents. The Saints have their big 3 and would only be looking to add bodies. Gay is on a short contract, but unlike Chase Young he will likely be re-signed if he performs well in 2024. The ability to view Gay as a future piece of the team keeps the need to add a linebacker a low priority in this year’s draft.

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Newly-signed Saints LB Willie Gay will compete for a starting job in 2024

Willie Gay was signed to be more than the Saints’ third linebacker. Look for him to compete with Pete Werner for a starting job next to Demario Davis:

When Willie Gay signed with the New Orleans Saints, he spoke about not being judged from a limited snap count in his final season with the Kansas City Chiefs. It was a clear indication that he believed he would come in and compete for a starting job. Players always feel that way, but head coach Dennis Allen affirmed that on Tuesday morning when speaking with reporters at the NFC coaches breakfast during league ownership meetings in Orlando, Fla.

Don’t expect it to be Demario Davis being pushed out of the lineup; he’s shown his 35 years here and there but is consistently playing at a high level. It’s Pete Werner who fell off last season, particularly against the pass. He was picked on in games against the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams.

Still, those struggles shouldn’t have been enough for Werner to lose his job after having a strong first two seasons in the league but adding competition is a good response from Allen. Werner struggled in space, and his athleticism was exploited. Athleticism is Gay’s trademark. That attribute doesn’t guarantee him to be the better player, but it is something to watch.

Gay may end up being the Saints’ strongside linebacker. With the lack of depth at the position, that is the likely outcome if he loses the competition. We could also see a rotation at weakside linebacker with Werner and Gay or Werner could lose his starting job altogether. The true story is the Saints saw enough of a decline in Werner’s performance to bring in competition. We’ll see where it goes from here when training camp kicks off in August.

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Willie Gay Jr. eager to compete for snaps in Saints LB corps

Willie Gay Jr. looks forward to making plays with Demario Davis and Pete Werner, but he’ll push one of them off the field if need be:

What’s the vision for Willie Gay Jr.? The New Orleans Saints acted quickly to sign the Kansas City Chiefs linebacker when free agency opened up, and it’s obvious they needed another player in the group after losing Zack Baun to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Many of Gay’s strengths overlap with Pete Werner as a highly athletic linebacker who can run with tight ends and running backs in coverage, but with the quick processing ability to read the field and flow to the ball on running downs. Something he does better than others is tracking a mobile quarterback and limiting big plays with their legs, which has been a major weakness for Dennis Allen’s defense.

And how does Gay see himself fitting into a defense that plays more nickel and dime personnel than plays with its base 4-3? He considered the challenge when introducing himself to local media this week.

“They have two great linebackers right now. Pete going into year four, Pete has been playing amazing, I’ve been watching him since we both were young bucks,” Gay said, noting that he came into the NFL just a year after Werner made the jump. “And of course Demario, he’s a Mississippi guy, from Brandon, Mississippi. I’ve been watching Demario since eighth grade. So just to be able to be on the field with those guys, whenever, definitely I know I’ve got to earn my stripes whatever position that may be, however many reps it may be, I’m excited for it.”

He’s open to anything, characterizing this experience as “a clean slate for me.” But Gay knows he’ll have to work for snaps. And with both him and Werner entering a prove-it year as pending free agents for 2025, he’ll have to fight hard through training camp to carve out a role not just this season, but beyond.

“I mean of course we’ll be competing for snaps, it happened to me last year, my fourth year of my contract,” Gay replied when asked about the training camp battle brewing. “Not to take food off anybody else’s plate but you definitely want to just get in, get to the point where you’re playing — me personally, more than I was last year.”

Gay totaled 698 defensive snaps in 19 games last  year (including the playoffs) for Kansas City, which averages out to 36.7 snaps per game. Compare that to the Saints linebackers:

  • Demario Davis: 1,074 snaps in 17 games (63.2)
  • Pete Werner: 919 snaps in 16 games  (57.4)
  • Zack Baun: 303 snaps in 17 games (17.8)
  • Nephi Sewell: 59 snaps in 7 games (8.4)

He won’t fill the same role as Baun on the strong side, often working as a designated pass rusher; Gay is at his best making plays in space either at the middle spot or on the weak side, where Werner and Davis trade off from one down to the next. So he’ll be looking to displace one of them to earn more reps. Maybe that means scaling back Davis as he ages, or going with a more confident coverage player and rotating Gay in for Werner on passing downs.

But if Gay had it his way, the Saints would just run their base personnel more often so all three of them could share the field: “I actually want to get out there, show what I can do, any way that’s possible. Us three on the field, we had a good room with the Chiefs, but me, Demario, and Pete, I feel like we can make something happen. I’m excited, that’s for sure.”

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Willie Gay pulled a J.R. Smith and went shirtless for the Chiefs’ championship parade

Willie Gay and the Chiefs are already turning up

There are plenty of words you can use to describe J.R. Smith. Basketball player. Hooper. Golfer. Internet sensation. They all certainly apply.

But I’d like to add another one to the list: Trendsetter.

Were people going shirtless at championship parades before J.R. Smith did it in 2016? I’m sure they were. But did anybody do it quite like Smith did it? I think it’s a safe bet that the answer is no. I mean, it’s been nearly a decade and we’re still talking about Smith’s iconic moment. The impact is still reverberating today.

That brings us to Willie Gay. The Chiefs’ linebacker pulled off a shirtless look at Kansas City’s championship parade today while running through the streets.

You already know what the vibes are when you see this man.

We love to see it. The shirtless tradition lives on. Fans were so here for it.

Chiefs LB Willie Gay Jr. hints at potential departure from Kansas City in Twitter post

#Chiefs LB Willie Gay Jr. hinted that Saturday’s victory over the #Dolphins may have been his last game at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Kansas City Chiefs may be without one of their top linebackers next season after veteran defender Willie Gay Jr. hinted at a potential departure from the team on Twitter.

Gay, who Kansas City selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft, has been an impact player for the Chiefs when healthy and was an integral part of their Super Bowl LVII victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

In a season where Kansas City’s defense has dominated opponents, some fans may question whether general manager Brett Veach seriously intends to let one of the unit’s brightest stars walk.

The potential departure of Chris Jones could also make waves for the Chiefs in the offseason. Kansas City’s championship roster for last season may be destined to split up in the next few months. If they do, coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will need to reinvent his squad to continue competing for Super Bowl titles in the coming years.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes explains his Christmas gift for the offensive line

Kansas City #Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes explains his Christmas gift for the offensive line.

The holiday season is a time for family and sharing as the Kansas City Chiefs prepare to play on Christmas Day with the postseason on their minds. The critical game on Monday against the Las Vegas Raiders is the focus, but the charm of the Christmas spirit wasn’t lost on the players.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes usually gifts his offer offensive line annually during the holidays, and it rarely makes viral news as his latest presents did this week. Mahomes spoke with reporters during his Thursday press conference to explain his unique gift to guys who protect him weekly.

“So I got that golf club car, golf cart at home. And I was like, Man, this is sweet,” Mahomes explained. “I was thinking of ideas. And I wanted to change that from what I’ve done in past years. And I figured I give them something that I enjoy. And I think y’all could see from some of the videos they enjoyed it.

“They were going around Arrowhead and got a little nervous because I thought I was gonna ship them to where they were going; they’re like, No, we need to get in them right now and take them for a ride. So I know, it’s cool. I’m glad they enjoyed it. And I mean, it’s part of that part of the year, and they do a lot for me, so I’m gonna take care of them as well.”

Videos surfaced earlier in the week of the offensive linemen with a seemingly jealous Willie Gay riding around the facility in the new carts. Mahomes figured there weren’t many golf players in the group, so he got a specific model for casual driving.

“That’s why I got the four-seater; there’s only a couple of nights you play golf,” Mahomes said. “You have kind of that one actually does, it has a place for you to put your golf clubs if you want to take it out to the golf course. But that’s more like the cruising around the neighborhood type golf card. So, I gave them the option where they could do both. But I chose more comfort over the convenience of being on the golf course.”

The fun antics from the present indicate that the team remains calm during this crucial stretch in the season.

Chiefs stock watch: Which players impressed during Week 15 vs. Patriots?

Here’s a look at the stock trends for some #Chiefs players after the Week 15 victory over the #Patriots. | from: @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs secured a much-needed win over the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Week 15. The victory ended their two-game losing streak and kept them in contention for the top seed in the AFC and the important bye week in the postseason.

Mahomes handled every defensive scheme thrown at him since he’s expected to go against a Bil Belicheck-coached team and execute efficiently. The two interceptions he threw were beyond his control as they were taken out of the hands of tight-end Blake Bell and bobbled by Kadarius Toney.

He connected often with star rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice and veteran running backs Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Harrison Butker missed his first field goal since last season but still connected later in the game from 54 yards.

Kansas City’s defense stifled the Patriots’ offense, especially in the second half, with takeaways and short possessions. Four sacks by the unit, along with an impressive first-half interception from Willie Gay Jr., Chris Jones, L’Jarius Sneed, and Drue Tranquill, all made significant plays to help clinch the road victory.

The Chiefs gained a full game in the AFC West with the victory, as the Denver Broncos loss pushes their division lead to two with three games left in the regular season.

Here’s a look at how the stock is trending for some players after the Week 15 victory at Gillette Stadium:

WATCH: Chiefs LB Willie Gay Jr. intercepts Patriots QB Bailey Zappe

Watch #Chiefs LB Willie Gay Jr. intercept #Patriots QB Bailey Zappe to set Kansas City up in scoring position.

The Kansas City Chiefs are starting to pull away from the New England Patriots in a Week 15 tilt that could have huge implications for the AFC playoff race.

After Kansas City was forced to settle for a field goal in the third quarter, New England took possession of the ball and tried to test the Chiefs’ defense with a pass near the sideline.

Budding linebacker Willie Gay Jr. made his move after Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe targeted Pharaoh Brown, intercepting the ill-advised pass before making a long return that set up Kansas City in the red zone.

This play may have been all the Chiefs needed to put this game away. Patrick Mahomes would find running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire for a touchdown on Kansas City’s second offensive play after the pick to take a 14-point lead at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusets.

Expect Andy Reid to get conservative now that the Chiefs are in control of this crucial late-season matchup.

PFF grades for every player on Chiefs defense at Kansas City’s bye week

Check out the grades earned by every member of the #Chiefs defense through nine weeks of the 2023 NFL season.

The Kansas City Chiefs defense has been an impressive group in 2023 and has its sights set on becoming one of the best groups to ever take the field in franchise history.

Led by All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones and second-year cornerback Trent McDuffie, the unit has been extremely effective at limiting opponents to minimal points and yardage through nine games this season.

The resurgence of Kansas City’s defense has given Chiefs fans hope for the future as the team’s offense continues to work its way back to championship form at the season’s midway point.

Several contributors have helped buoy the defense on a weekly basis while others have left something to be desired to this point in the season. Pro Football Focus has broken down the play of each member of the unit through the first nine weeks of the season, and assigned players grades that reflect the quality of their performances.

Check out how each member of the Chiefs’ defense has fared through Week 9, according to PFF:

Chiefs LB Willie Gay Jr. was PFF’s third-highest graded defender in Week 9

#Chiefs LB Willie Gay Jr. was PFF’s third-highest graded defender in the NFL after his standout performance against the #Dolphins in Week 9

Willie Gay Jr.’s Pro Football Focus grade against the Miami Dolphins wasn’t only the highest among Kansas City Chiefs players but also managed to be the third-best among all defenders in the NFL for Week 9.

His remarkable mark of 92.0 was more than five points better than the Chiefs’ second-highest-graded player Mecole Hardman, who scored 85.0 for his performance against Miami.

Gay fell just 1.2 points below the leader on PFF’s list and nearly did enough to be considered the best player at any position across the league during Week 9.

The Chiefs’ linebacking corps needed a standout performance from Gay against the Dolphins, and he delivered in a big way to help Kansas City secure its seventh win of the 2023 season.

Fans should expect to see more of Gay in Week 11 when the Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles in a Super Bowl LVII rematch at Arrowhead Stadium in what is expected to be a hotly-contested matchup between two of the NFL’s top teams.

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