Tyree

Gillespie

Gillespie isn’t a stranger to the Chiefs, as the former fourth-round pick spent part of last season on their practice squad. Gillespie bounced around between the Texans and Chiefs last season but didn’t take a regular-season snap. The former fourth round pick has played in just 14 games since being drafted in 2021 and should have a chance to earn a special teams role this offseason.

Gillespie appeared in just three games last season after playing in 11 with the Raiders in 2021. He only appeared on special teams with the Jaguars. It’s likely a claim aimed at boosting Houston’s special teams profile.

Starting safety Rayshawn Jenkins is active after being listed as questionable due to a concussion. All of the Jags’ inactives are healthy scratches for Week 10.

That was quick. Tennessee two weeks ago acquired Gillespie from Vegas in exchange for a conditional 2024 seventh rounder. He appeared in 11 games as a rookie for the Raiders in 2021, but only 13 snaps came on defense with another 150 on special teams. Gillespie could land on a practice squad this week.

Gillespie was taken in the fourth round of last year’s draft out of Mizzou, but the new regime in Vegas deemed him expendable. He appeared in 11 games as a rookie, but only 13 snaps came on defense with another 150 on special teams.

Gillespie (6'0/207) was a two-and-a-half year starter in Missouri’s defense, playing at his best when the field was condensed for him and he was simply asked to play fast downhill. Gillespie is a decent hitter, though his downhill play is more about finding himself at the catch point at a decent time. That said, he’s not a particularly impressive athlete (1st percentile broad jump, 34th percentile three-cone) and may not have the range to survive as a centerfielder despite what his 4.43 40-yard dash reads. Gillespie is likely a special teamer who could emerge as a decent backup/depth safety as a strong-side player.

Gillespie (6'0/207) was a two-and-a-half year starter for the Tigers. In the Missouri defense, Gillespie played a bit all over the place, but often looked at his best when able to trigger forward. Whether that meant split field alignments or rolled down in the slot, Gillespie was at his best when the field was condensed for him and he could just play fast downhill. Gillespie is a decent hitter, though his downhill play is more about finding himself at the catch point at a decent time. That said, Gillespie is not a particularly impressive athlete (1st percentile broad jump, 34th percentile three-cone) and may not have the range to survive as a centerfielder despite what his 4.43 40-yard dash says. Gillespie is likely a special teamer who could emerge as a decent backup/depth safety as a strong-side player.

Gillespie (6'0/210) showed well at Missouri’s Pro Day, running the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds. But, as we all know, there’s a difference between testing speed and game speed. And in the case of Gillespie, his being able to post that time has led to some questions being asked. “Even though Gillespie is a good athlete with solid fluidity and explosiveness, his speed remains a question — and the derivation of his speed concerns — remains a question,” Cummings wrote. “His 4.43 40-yard dash time only compounds matters. If Gillespie is this fast, why didn’t it always show up on tape? Are there issues with reaction quickness to take into account? Can he play to his athletic ceiling more often?” Gillespie is expected to be a middle-round selection in this month’s draft.

Gillespie (6'0/210) also put in a run of 4.40 seconds, showing off consistent straight-line speed in the process. His 40-yard dash times are right in line with the fastest safety combine run from 2020 -- L’Jarius Sneed at 4.37 seconds; Sneed was ultimately drafted in the fourth round by the Chiefs. In addition, Gillespie notched less headline-inducing marks of 4.39 seconds in the short shuttle and 7.06 seconds in the three-cone drill. The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner and Chris Burke pass along that several of Gillespie’s testing numbers on Monday lined up closely with those of former Florida LB Keanu Neal, drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round back in 2016. At this juncture, Gillespie profiles as a mid-round selection for April’s draft.

While Gillespie garners just a pair of stars from Scout and Rivals, he received a three-star designation from ESPN. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder took January visits to both FAU and Tulane before he ultimately opted for Mizzou. He is a likely defender at the collegiate level, but also has potential as an offensive player if HC Barry Odom opts to experiment in the future.