The Chiefs agreed to a surprising contract extension just hours before a Week 1 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, signing a three-year, $19.5 million deal with TE Noah Gray.

After Kansas City selected promising TCU standout Jared Wiley in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, it was assumed that Gray would be let go following this season. Obviously, Brett Veach and the front office had other plans and Gray is now locked up for the foreseeable future.

Since being selected in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Gray established himself as a dependable pass-catcher and blocker, valuable traits for an offense that loves tight ends as much as Andy Reid’s does.

Chiefs Sign TE Noah Gray to Three-Year Contract Extension

During his three-year career with the Chiefs, Gray has 63 catches for 640 yards and four TDs. He’s taken over for Travis Kelce in the limited moments the future Hall of Fame tight end missed time, though there are understandable questions about the extension.

Kansas City just selected Wiley with many fans assuming he’d take over Kelce’s role once he retired. If Gray is here for three more years, does that mean Gray is actually Kelce’s eventual replacement?

There’s no question that Gray is a dependable tight end who has earned the trust of the franchise. He lacks the athletic upside that Wiley possesses, but the organization clearly has big plans for him moving forward.

Whether or not this means anything for Wiley and the rest of the tight end room remains to be seen. Nonetheless, it’s a surprising development coming so soon before such a pivotal Week 1 matchup.