← 2020 DRAFT PLAYER PROFILE R2 · #63 OVERALL · LB

Willie Gay Jr.

Drafted by KC · GM Brett Veach · Mississippi St.

All NFL teams

Full-career context

These totals follow Willie Gay Jr. across every NFL team. Draft credit is separated below for each team that selected him.

Games played89
Games started57
Weighted career AV27
Pro Bowls0
AP1 All-Pro0
Career seasons6

Accountability by draft event

What each drafting team received

2020 · Round 2 · #63

KC draft credit

GM Brett Veach

Team games57
Team starts47
On-team AV23
On-team PB / AP10 / 0
Good+0.56 contribution17th of 55 picks for this GM

Games: direct team-season record. Starts: direct team-season record.

A Good pick

Willie Gay Jr. was Brett Veach's 17th-best of 55 picks across his career.

His retained-value contribution score (opportunity plus quality plus recognition, with related outcomes collapsed inside each bucket) is +0.56. This is a per-pick accountability metric, separate from Brett Veach's leaderboard composite θ.

The walkthrough below shows which bucket carried the pick: playing time, value quality, or league honors.

Opportunity
Did he earn the field?
Games played
57
on drafting team · 89 full-career
Games started
47
on drafting team · 57 full-career
Snap-z
1.4
4 modeled seasons
Quality
Was that time valuable?
On-team AV
23
modeled; full weighted AV 27
AV / 1k snaps
10.4
2,218 snaps in rate base
AV-rate z
+0.5
position-year adjusted quality
Recognition
Did the league notice?
Pro Bowls
0
all on drafting team
AP1 All-Pro
0 AP1
all on drafting team · AP2 context 0
All-Decade
0
context only

Did this pick move Brett Veach's grade?

The first chart removes the time axis: every Brett Veach pick is sorted by retained contribution across opportunity, quality, and recognition. Willie Gay Jr. totals +0.56. The second chart breaks that same contribution into the seasons when the evidence arrived. Opportunity and quality can move separately, which keeps high-snap, low-AV profiles from looking cleaner than they are.

Aggregate contribution by player

-10+1+2+3+4+5+6+763. Humphrey#63 · Creed Humphrey · aggregate +7.46Humphrey +7.5226. Smith#226 · Trey Smith · aggregate +4.00Smith +4.021. McDuffie#21 · Trent McDuffie · aggregate +2.99McDuffie +3.0251. Pacheco#251 · Isiah Pacheco · aggregate +1.8675. Nnadi#75 · Derrick Nnadi · aggregate +1.84177. Danna#177 · Michael Danna · aggregate +1.55243. Watson#243 · Jaylen Watson · aggregate +1.51138. Sneed#138 · L'Jarius Sneed · aggregate +1.3458. Bolton#58 · Nick Bolton · aggregate +1.34119. Conner#119 · Chamarri Conner · aggregate +1.24103. Chenal#103 · Leo Chenal · aggregate +1.2330. III#30 · George Karlaftis III · aggregate +1.21162. Gray#162 · Noah Gray · aggregate +1.1255. Rice#55 · Rashee Rice · aggregate +1.0362. Cook#62 · Bryan Cook · aggregate +1.00228. Smith#228 · Brashard Smith · aggregate +0.6863. Jr.#63 · Willie Gay Jr. · aggregate +0.56Jr. +0.656. Hardman#56 · Mecole Hardman · aggregate +0.52201. Fenton#201 · Rashad Fenton · aggregate +0.3928. Worthy#28 · Xavier Worthy · aggregate +0.37194. Coburn#194 · Keondre Coburn · aggregate +0.25259. Johnson#259 · Nazeeh Johnson · aggregate +0.16156. Bassa#156 · Jeffrey Bassa · aggregate +0.15211. Hadden#211 · Kamal Hadden · aggregate +0.14250. Jones#250 · Nic Jones · aggregate +0.13216. Allegretti#216 · Nick Allegretti · aggregate +0.07133. Royals#133 · Jalen Royals · aggregate +0.06248. Hanson#248 · C.J. Hanson · aggregate +0.05135. Williams#135 · Joshua Williams · aggregate +0.03159. Nourzad#159 · Hunter Nourzad · aggregate +0.0363. Suamataia#63 · Kingsley Suamataia · aggregate +0.0292. Morris#92 · Wanya Morris · aggregate -0.05133. Hicks#133 · Jaden Hicks · aggregate -0.0763. Thornhill#63 · Juan Thornhill · aggregate -0.08131. Wiley#131 · Jared Wiley · aggregate -0.0996. Niang#96 · Lucas Niang · aggregate -0.0985. Williams#85 · Nohl Williams · aggregate -0.1266. Gillotte#66 · Ashton Gillotte · aggregate -0.1431. Anudike-Uzomah#31 · Felix Anudike-Uzomah · aggregate -0.2663. Norman-Lott#63 · Omarr Norman-Lott · aggregate -0.38166. Thompson#166 · BJ Thompson · aggregate -0.41198. McKenzie#198 · Kahlil McKenzie · aggregate -0.50237. Keyes#237 · Thakarius Keyes · aggregate -0.52214. Thompson#214 · Darwin Thompson · aggregate -0.58124. Watts#124 · Armani Watts · aggregate -0.61100. O'Daniel#100 · Dorian O'Daniel · aggregate -0.6532. Simmons#32 · Josh Simmons · aggregate -0.71145. Kinnard#145 · Darian Kinnard · aggregate -0.7432. Edwards-Helaire#32 · Clyde Edwards-Helaire · aggregate -0.7854. Moore#54 · Skyy Moore · aggregate -0.93181. Powell#181 · Cornell Powell · aggregate -1.10144. Kaindoh#144 · Joshua Kaindoh · aggregate -1.2246. Speaks#46 · Breeland Speaks · aggregate -1.3984. Saunders#84 · Khalen Saunders · aggregate -1.40196. Smith#196 · Tremon Smith · aggregate -1.48

Incremental contribution by season

-8-6-4-20+2+4+6+8+10+12+14+16+18+20+22+242018 · Derrick Nnadi · incremental +0.112018 · Armani Watts · incremental -0.302018 · Dorian O'Daniel · incremental -0.692018 · Kahlil McKenzie · incremental -1.032018 · Breeland Speaks · incremental -1.742018 · Tremon Smith · incremental -2.462019 · Rashad Fenton · incremental +0.252019 · Mecole Hardman · incremental +0.392019 · Derrick Nnadi · incremental +1.062019 · Kahlil McKenzie · incremental -0.082019 · Dorian O'Daniel · incremental -0.222019 · Nick Allegretti · incremental -0.252019 · Armani Watts · incremental -0.262019 · Juan Thornhill · incremental -0.272019 · Breeland Speaks · incremental -0.372019 · Darwin Thompson · incremental -0.492019 · Tremon Smith · incremental -0.492019 · Khalen Saunders · incremental -1.272020 · Willie Gay Jr. · incremental +0.022020 · Rashad Fenton · incremental +0.112020 · Juan Thornhill · incremental +0.132020 · Nick Allegretti · incremental +0.192020 · Michael Danna · incremental +0.202020 · L'Jarius Sneed · incremental +0.202020 · Derrick Nnadi · incremental +0.772020 · Dorian O'Daniel · incremental -0.172020 · Mecole Hardman · incremental -0.282020 · Armani Watts · incremental -0.302020 · Breeland Speaks · incremental -0.372020 · Darwin Thompson · incremental -0.422020 · Lucas Niang · incremental -0.452020 · Thakarius Keyes · incremental -0.842020 · Khalen Saunders · incremental -0.882020 · Clyde Edwards-Helaire · incremental -4.762021 · Nick Allegretti · incremental +0.072021 · Juan Thornhill · incremental +0.142021 · Rashad Fenton · incremental +0.172021 · Nick Bolton · incremental +0.352021 · Willie Gay Jr. · incremental +0.362021 · Noah Gray · incremental +0.402021 · Lucas Niang · incremental +0.412021 · Derrick Nnadi · incremental +0.692021 · Michael Danna · incremental +0.802021 · L'Jarius Sneed · incremental +1.022021 · Creed Humphrey · incremental +1.542021 · Trey Smith · incremental +1.832021 · Darwin Thompson · incremental -0.152021 · Dorian O'Daniel · incremental -0.262021 · Armani Watts · incremental -0.262021 · Mecole Hardman · incremental -0.292021 · Breeland Speaks · incremental -0.352021 · Khalen Saunders · incremental -0.562021 · Cornell Powell · incremental -0.632021 · Clyde Edwards-Helaire · incremental -1.212021 · Joshua Kaindoh · incremental -1.702022 · Nick Allegretti · incremental +0.092022 · Joshua Williams · incremental +0.112022 · Juan Thornhill · incremental +0.182022 · Mecole Hardman · incremental +0.192022 · Rashad Fenton · incremental +0.222022 · Bryan Cook · incremental +0.382022 · Willie Gay Jr. · incremental +0.392022 · Derrick Nnadi · incremental +0.462022 · Clyde Edwards-Helaire · incremental +0.532022 · Michael Danna · incremental +0.542022 · Leo Chenal · incremental +0.552022 · Trent McDuffie · incremental +0.652022 · George Karlaftis III · incremental +0.662022 · Noah Gray · incremental +0.822022 · Nick Bolton · incremental +1.022022 · Jaylen Watson · incremental +1.052022 · L'Jarius Sneed · incremental +1.222022 · Isiah Pacheco · incremental +1.262022 · Trey Smith · incremental +1.532022 · Creed Humphrey · incremental +2.692022 · Nazeeh Johnson · incremental -0.072022 · Kahlil McKenzie · incremental -0.072022 · Thakarius Keyes · incremental -0.152022 · Darwin Thompson · incremental -0.162022 · Lucas Niang · incremental -0.232022 · Armani Watts · incremental -0.262022 · Joshua Kaindoh · incremental -0.332022 · Breeland Speaks · incremental -0.382022 · Skyy Moore · incremental -0.682022 · Khalen Saunders · incremental -0.722022 · Cornell Powell · incremental -1.172022 · Darian Kinnard · incremental -1.522023 · Nick Allegretti · incremental +0.052023 · Nic Jones · incremental +0.142023 · Joshua Williams · incremental +0.162023 · Nick Bolton · incremental +0.332023 · Rashad Fenton · incremental +0.332023 · Willie Gay Jr. · incremental +0.422023 · Keondre Coburn · incremental +0.492023 · Clyde Edwards-Helaire · incremental +0.502023 · Mecole Hardman · incremental +0.512023 · Bryan Cook · incremental +0.542023 · Noah Gray · incremental +0.742023 · Chamarri Conner · incremental +0.792023 · George Karlaftis III · incremental +0.832023 · Leo Chenal · incremental +0.882023 · Jaylen Watson · incremental +0.912023 · Derrick Nnadi · incremental +0.952023 · L'Jarius Sneed · incremental +1.082023 · Michael Danna · incremental +1.242023 · Trey Smith · incremental +1.602023 · Isiah Pacheco · incremental +1.942023 · Creed Humphrey · incremental +2.492023 · Trent McDuffie · incremental +3.502023 · Wanya Morris · incremental -0.072023 · Darwin Thompson · incremental -0.152023 · Lucas Niang · incremental -0.162023 · Thakarius Keyes · incremental -0.162023 · Cornell Powell · incremental -0.302023 · Joshua Kaindoh · incremental -0.342023 · Felix Anudike-Uzomah · incremental -0.382023 · Rashee Rice · incremental -0.482023 · Skyy Moore · incremental -0.602023 · BJ Thompson · incremental -0.732024 · Jaden Hicks · incremental +0.012024 · Nic Jones · incremental +0.072024 · C.J. Hanson · incremental +0.082024 · Hunter Nourzad · incremental +0.112024 · Joshua Williams · incremental +0.182024 · Wanya Morris · incremental +0.242024 · Kamal Hadden · incremental +0.242024 · Jaylen Watson · incremental +0.292024 · Isiah Pacheco · incremental +0.292024 · Derrick Nnadi · incremental +0.352024 · Xavier Worthy · incremental +0.392024 · Mecole Hardman · incremental +0.442024 · Michael Danna · incremental +0.792024 · Noah Gray · incremental +0.802024 · Bryan Cook · incremental +0.842024 · Chamarri Conner · incremental +0.872024 · George Karlaftis III · incremental +0.882024 · Leo Chenal · incremental +0.922024 · Nick Bolton · incremental +0.932024 · Trent McDuffie · incremental +1.372024 · Rashee Rice · incremental +2.092024 · Trey Smith · incremental +2.732024 · Creed Humphrey · incremental +4.752024 · Kingsley Suamataia · incremental -0.042024 · Thakarius Keyes · incremental -0.162024 · BJ Thompson · incremental -0.212024 · Jared Wiley · incremental -0.232024 · Cornell Powell · incremental -0.272024 · Lucas Niang · incremental -0.312024 · Joshua Kaindoh · incremental -0.312024 · Felix Anudike-Uzomah · incremental -0.372024 · Nazeeh Johnson · incremental -0.572024 · Skyy Moore · incremental -0.892025 · Joshua Williams · incremental +0.032025 · Hunter Nourzad · incremental +0.052025 · C.J. Hanson · incremental +0.092025 · Jalen Royals · incremental +0.172025 · Kingsley Suamataia · incremental +0.172025 · Jaden Hicks · incremental +0.212025 · Rashee Rice · incremental +0.372025 · Xavier Worthy · incremental +0.402025 · Jeffrey Bassa · incremental +0.412025 · Derrick Nnadi · incremental +0.442025 · Noah Gray · incremental +0.572025 · Michael Danna · incremental +0.602025 · Leo Chenal · incremental +0.762025 · Bryan Cook · incremental +0.802025 · George Karlaftis III · incremental +0.862025 · Trent McDuffie · incremental +0.892025 · Nick Bolton · incremental +0.992025 · Nazeeh Johnson · incremental +1.242025 · Isiah Pacheco · incremental +1.252025 · Brashard Smith · incremental +1.502025 · Chamarri Conner · incremental +1.522025 · Jaylen Watson · incremental +1.662025 · Trey Smith · incremental +1.982025 · Clyde Edwards-Helaire · incremental +2.992025 · Creed Humphrey · incremental +4.782025 · Nohl Williams · incremental -0.132025 · Wanya Morris · incremental -0.172025 · BJ Thompson · incremental -0.222025 · Ashton Gillotte · incremental -0.272025 · Cornell Powell · incremental -0.282025 · Joshua Kaindoh · incremental -0.332025 · Jared Wiley · incremental -0.362025 · Omarr Norman-Lott · incremental -0.892025 · Josh Simmons · incremental -1.78Smith -2.5Jr. +0.0Edwards-Helaire -4.8Jr. +0.4Jr. +0.4Humphrey +2.7Jr. +0.4Pacheco +1.9Humphrey +2.5McDuffie +3.5Rice +2.1Smith +2.7Humphrey +4.8Smith +2.0Edwards-Helaire +3.0Humphrey +4.820186 players201912 players202016 players202121 players202232 players202332 players202433 players202534 players
Above expectationBelow expectationWillie Gay Jr.GM total +20.0Willie Gay Jr. by season +1.2

How much retained production did Willie Gay Jr. return vs. his slot?

Each mark below is one player's model value above slot. Light gray marks are slot-similar peers: LBs drafted within ±5 picks of Willie Gay Jr. since 2010 (16 players).The score is the retained production/value bucket from the pick-residual model: on-team AV plus AV-rate quality, adjusted for draft slot, position, and era. Opportunity snaps and league honors are excluded.

-0.50+0.5+1+1.5Model value above slot58. DavidLavonte David · model value +1.660. WernerPete Werner · model value +0.863. AngererPat Angerer · model value +0.863. Jr.Willie Gay Jr. · model value +0.7+0.758. BoltonNick Bolton · model value +0.562. SpikesBrandon Spikes · model value +0.365. WilsonLogan Wilson · model value +0.366. MooreSio Moore · model value +0.267. IrvingNate Irving · model value +0.158. AndersenTroy Andersen · model value -0.367. SandersDrew Sanders · model value -0.460. UcheJoshua Uche · model value -0.466. MochDontay Moch · model value -0.561. MoutonJonas Mouton · model value -0.568. SheppardKelvin Sheppard · model value -0.668. PoliteJachai Polite · model value -0.666. AsamoahBrian Asamoah · model value -0.7
Willie Gay Jr.Slot-similar peers (16)

Cumulative value over time

Year-by-year running totals since draft. Left axis = games started. Right axis = honors (Pro Bowl / AP1 / AP2). Pre-2013 picks have no games-started line because that comes from per-game snap counts (not available for older players). Honors extend back to 1980.

'20'22'24'2501326395201Cumulative GSHonors count
Games started (cumulative) Pro Bowls AP1 All-Pro AP2 All-Pro

Full-career season history (6 scored seasons)

YearTeamGPGSSnapsSnap-zAVAV/snapPBAP1AP2
2020KC16125080.347.9
2021KC12104650.1510.8
2022KC13136130.569.8
2023KC16126320.5812.7
2024NO154363-0.2513.8
2025MIA171258-0.527.8

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