With the No. 63 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected linebacker Willie Gay Jr. from Mississippi State. Instant comparisons—namely from Arrowhead Pride’s draft guide—were to former Chiefs great Derrick Johnson.
That’s pretty huge praise. Johnson is one of the best linebackers in Chiefs history. ESPN was quick to mention Gay’s history, where he had been suspended for cheating on a test as well as a fight with Mississippi State quarterback Garrett Shrader in practice. This led to some bitter reactions on Twitter toward both ESPN and Gay Jr.