KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On the team’s second straight game day, the Chiefs agreed to terms on an extension for another member of their 2021 draft class, just maybe not the one of which you were expecting next.
The Chiefs and tight end Noah Gray on Thursday agreed to a three-year extension worth $19.5 million. The deal first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter will keep the 25-year-old connected to Kansas City through the 2027 season. The deal includes a $6 million signing bonus and $10 million guaranteed at signing.
Gray’s original rookie contract included a $3.116 million base salary for the 2024 season resulting in a cap hit of $3.194 million this year. The extension will likely have a similar cap hit for 2024 with larger cap hits in 2025 through 2027.
Gray has 63 catches for 645 yards and two touchdowns in 50 games with 19 starts for the Chiefs over the past three seasons. He’s also lined up as a short-yardage quarterback on occasion, rushing for a touchdown in that role during the 2022 regular season.
A four-phase contributor for coordinator Dave Toub’s special teams, Gray has played 781 snaps over the past three regular seasons, including 52% of the team’s special teams snaps last season. Between offense and special teams, Gray has played 2,259 snaps, an average of 752 per season. He took part in 811 snaps last season.
He’s also been part of the team’s Super Bowl championship runs the past seasons, playing 10 games with five starts while catching 13 passes for 117 yards.
Gray is the second member of the team’s 2021 NFL Draft class to ink an extension in recent weeks. Moments before the Chiefs took the field against the Chicago Bears for their preseason game on Aug. 22, news broke that the club had reached terms on a four-year, $72 million extension with center Creed Humphrey. Gray was the club’s fifth-round choice (No. 162 overall) while Humphrey was the team’s second of two second-round selections (No. 63 overall)
Now all eyes shift toward two other key members of the 2021 draft class, specifically the team’s other second-round choice Nick Bolton (No. 58 overall) and sixth-round pick Trey Smith (No. 226 overall).
