2020 NFL Draft: Willie Gay Jr. scouting report

2020 NFL Draft Analysis

Draft Prediction: Second Round

Despite the so-called “off-field issues” listed earlier, it should be assumed Gay will be drafted much earlier than many draft analysts are saying.

Some “team-cohesion” purists will likely ignore Gay in the earlier rounds, citing the issues listed before. But NFL general managers are notoriously forgiving of bad behavior from their players. Some enterprising general manager will draft Gay earlier than we think.

Gay fits in perfectly on Day Two of the 2020 NFL Draft: not too early to get a ton of publicity, not late enough to let a divisional rival sneak in and steal him. Gay may have a checkered past. But that has never stopped an NFL team before now and it won’t stop them in this situation.

Gay would likely succeed on any NFL roster. Here are three teams that would make excellent landing spots for Gay in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Possible 2020 NFL Draft Landing Spots

There are a myriad of reasons why the Las Vegas Raiders are the ideal landing spot for Gay in the 2020 NFL Draft.

For starters, coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock have a history of taking chances on, let us say, problematic players. Last season they brought in Antonio Brown, Richie Incognito and Vontaze Burfict on the same team.

Not only that, but during the Brown/Mayock incident that saw Brown released before Week One in 2019, Burfict allegedly served as the one to break up the argument. Seeing Burfict as the voice of reason in an altercation illustrates how we cannot take one-off incidents and project them on a player ad infinitum.

It isn’t remembered now, considering Burfict’s season ended with an ejection and season-ending penalty. But before that ejection, it looked like Burfict might have a chance to turn his career around with Gruden. The structure this team has could be beneficial to Gay.

Secondly, the Raiders require some serious linebacker help this offseason. They have three outside linebackers and two inside linebackers that are unrestricted free-agents this offseason, according to Spotrac. Assuming they hit free agency, this roster is going to need a serious infusion of linebacker talent in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Thirdly, this team needs big names. With the move to Nevada, along with the disenfranchisement of Oakland fans, Gruden and the Raiders will need all the big-name, show stoppers they can get. Burfict was a serviceable linebacker, but his style of play is a tad too ruthless for the new NFL. You cannot assume he will be able to make it through an entire season without incurring a lengthy suspension.

Finally, Gay will have a familiar face to help tutor him on the Raiders defense: Johnathan Abram was drafted in the first round last year from Mississippi State. Abram was another player on the roster last season with a reputation as a divisive element, the extent to which was clearly visible on the HBO show “Hard Knocks”.

While definitely a headache for the coaching staff with his off-the-cuff remarks to Gruden and quarterback Derek Carr, he became a popular player, both in the locker room and among the fans. Before his season-ending injury, many thought Abram had a shot at winning the Defensive Player of the Year award.

The Raiders have never shied away from controversial players, especially since Gruden’s take over of the team in 2018. A new, fresh linebacker, with a dash of controversy, is just what the Raiders need to draw interest from the local fans.

The fact that Gay may also develop into one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL doesn’t hurt either.

Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots have a track record of rehabilitating the careers of players who more conventional teams have given up on. By bringing in prospects with a ton of potential that hasn’t been actualized (at a discount, I might add), the Patriots have continually built a winning roster over the last two decades.

Belichick’s no-nonsense coaching style (and the environment it creates) could be a good place for Gay. That structure can sometimes help players stay focused, less prone to act irresponsibly.

The Patriots also need linebacker depth in the 2020 NFL Draft. The team has three outside linebackers and one inside linebacker hitting free agency this month. Kyle Van Noy reportedly expects to hit free agency this month. A recent report has OLB Jamie Collins being targeted by the New Orlean Saints in free agency.

Since the Patriots have a long history of developing talent then letting them go in free agency, it can be assumed the team will need a linebacker early in the 2020 NFL Draft. While Gay does have some baggage in his history, none of it has to do with on-field production or his ability to play linebacker.

A top linebacker falling into the second or third round because of perceived “issues” is just the type of player Belichick looks for in the draft. Expect Belichick to take a serious look at the young linebacker in the lead up to the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Dallas Cowboys off-season has been dominated by Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper contract discussions and what the team will do with their estimated $90 million in cap space. But the Cowboys should be keeping a keen eye on bringing in younger talent in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Cowboys will also have three outside linebackers hitting free-agency this month. Cowboys veteran defensive leader Sean Lee is a free agent this offseason and reportedly wants to test free agency in 2020.

While Jerry Jones would prefer to keep him with the team in some capacity, the bitter truth is Lee’s health has made him an unreliable asset on the field. Lee does bring a ton of upside in the locker room, serving as a quasi-coach and emotional leader of the defense. But paying him top linebacker money does not make sense for the Cowboys front office. Not when they have premier talents like Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith playing linebacker on the roster.

The Cowboys have a history of unconventional draft picks. They will take a chance on a player with massive upside, even if they cannot yield high-end results in the short term. While Gay may not be completely done developing, he is talented enough to earn a rotational role on the roster in 2020.

Gay’s coverage abilities also help the Cowboys as they prepare to say goodbye to free-agent cornerback Byron Jones. With their top cornerback likely leaving in free agency, the Cowboys will need help in pass coverage this season. Gay has an excellent history of playing in coverage and could help the defense on passing downs.

According to Spotrac, the Cowboys will have six players from the secondary leaving in free agency. Safety Jeff Heath is a free agent and the Cowboys have required a second reliable safety since last season.

Having a linebacker that specializes in coverage plays could help alleviate the pressure on Smith and Vander Esch to play all three downs and lend assistance to a secondary that is looking suspiciously weak for the first time in years.