3 Chiefs Who Must Be Re-Signed to Ensure a Three-Peat in 2025 (and 1 That Can Walk)

3. Re-Sign: Willie Gay

Linebacker might not be a "premium position" in the modern NFL, but that's why retaining your talent at the position can be so appealing — it's not expensive to roster some real difference-makers. And Willie Gay is a terrific compliment to Tranquill.

Gay steps up as a plus run defender in a way that Tranquill doesn't, and while that's not always crucial, you do need some ability to stop the run. And we saw this season that if the Chiefs got much worse in that area it could definitely start to become an issue. And that's an issue that bleeds into your ability to defend the pass too.

The other thing Gay does that doesn't really show up on the stat-sheet on a personal level is contain rushing quarterbacks. Cleaning up plays with tackles on a QB who scrambles for 3 yards, or keeping your contain and forcing them to just throw the ball away aren't going to jump off the page the way sacks or TFLs will, but they're nearly as impactful all the same.

Gay's play meshes perfectly with Tranquill and Nick Bolton, and the talent there really feels like a key to why Spags can have so much success with this defense. His ability to put the right players in the right spots to succeed is uncanny, and the gestalt he creates by using different skill sets in perfect harmony makes linebackers feel uniquely valuable in KC.