The Kansas City Chiefs traded up to select tight end Noah Gray from Duke University in the fifth round (No. 162 overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon, providing quarterback Patrick Mahomes with another weapon on offense.
Here are five things to know about the newest member of the offense.
1. Gray was a two-year starter for the Blue Devils.
The 22-year-old Gray saw action in all four of his seasons on campus - appearing in 26 games between his freshman and sophomore seasons – but he took on an even larger role during his final two years in school, starting 21 of 22 possible games between 2019-20.
In total, Gray notched 948 receiving yards and eight touchdowns across 48 games (22 starts) during his time in Durham. He finished his career as Duke's all-time leader in receptions by a tight end (105).
The Kansas City Chiefs added to their offensive room by selecting Duke Tight End Noah Gray in the 5th Round (Pick 162) of the third day of 2021 NFL Draft
Duke's Noah Gray (87) catches a touchdown pass while Virginia Tech's Reggie Floyd chases during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Duke's Noah Gray, center, makes a catch between Northwestern's Jared McGee, left, and Northwestern's Montre Hartage during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/Jim Young)
American Team tight end Noah Gray of Duke (86) runs during the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
American Team tight end Noah Gray of Duke (86) attempts a catch against National Team defensive back Divine Deablo of Virginia Tech (27) during the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Duke tight end Noah Gray lines up against Alabama during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
American Team tight end Noah Gray of Duke (86) checks with an official before a play during the first half of the NCAA college football Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza)
American Team tight end Noah Gray of Duke (86) celebrates a score during the American Team practice for the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala., Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Duke tight end Noah Gray of Duke (86) reaches for a pass as Syracuse defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu defends during the American team practice for the college football Senior Bowl, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza)
Duke tight end Noah Gray (87) makes a catch during warm-ups before playing against Virginia Tech in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Durham, N.C. (Nell Redmond/Pool Photo via AP)
Duke's Noah Gray (87) is tackled by Syracuse's Evan Foster, left, and Andre Cisco, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Duke's Noah Gray (87) gets taken down by North Carolina A&T's Antoine Wilder (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Duke's Noah Gray (87) catches a touchdown pass while Virginia Tech's Reggie Floyd (21) chases during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Duke's Noah Gray turns after making a catch during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Wake Forest in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
American Team tight end Noah Gray of Duke (86) runs during the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Duke's Noah Gray (87) gets tied up by North Carolina A&T's Antoine Wilder (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Duke's Noah Gray (87) is tackled by Syracuse's Evan Foster (9) and Andre Cisco (7) during an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Duke's Noah Gray (87) catches a touchdown pass while Virginia Tech's Reggie Floyd (21) chases during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
2. He put together the top season of his career in 2019.
The six-foot-four, 240-pound Gray caught 51 passes for 392 yards and three touchdowns in 2019, compiling the best season of his college career. He caught at least six passes in four of his 12 outings and tallied multiple receptions in every game.
His 51 receptions that season were tied for the seventh-most amongst FBS tight ends.
3. Gray is sure-handed with only three career drops.
According to Pro Football Focus, Gray dropped just three passes out of 107 catchable targets during his career.
He did the majority of his damage on underneath passes in college – averaging 9.0 yards-per-catch – and was as reliable as they come when the ball was thrown his way.
4. He's a versatile player that can do several different things on offense.
Gray has experience all over the place, lining up in the slot (237 snaps), in-line (139 snaps) and in the backfield (120 snaps) in 2020.
Here's what Ian Cummings of the Pro Football Network had to say about Gray:
"First and foremost, Gray is versatile. At Duke, he lined up in the slot, inline, and at fullback, and he also went through motion a lot. He's also a willing blocker."
Gray also contributed on special teams in punt coverage and on field goal attempts.
5. Gray was a quarterback in high school before making the switch to tight end.
A multi-sport star at Leominster Senior High School about an hour outside of Boston, Gray impressed as a dual-threat quarterback before transitioning to tight end midway through his senior season.
Duke was the only Power-Five program to offer Gray a scholarship, but now all these years later, he's headed to the National Football League.
