The Kansas City Chiefs paid very little attention to the tight end position during the 2026 NFL offseason

Kansas City re-signed Travis Kelce on what amounts to a one-year deal that can be reworked after the 2026 NFL season if he decides to extend his playing career. The Chiefs also added undrafted free agent tight end John Michael Gyllenborg out of Wyoming, a Kansas City local. That was the extent of the investment until the Chiefs signed Mason Pline following mandatory minicamp.

With no clear successor on the roster, Brett Veach and the Chiefs will need to chart a course. That includes a combination of in-house development, free agency, or the 2027 NFL Draft. Kyle Pitts signed a three-year contract extension with Atlanta. It removes a big name from the pool of potential Travis Kelce successors before the 2027 free agency market even materializes.

Kansas City’s in-house options to succeed Travis Kelce

The Chiefs’ top tight end option outside of Kelce is Noah Gray, a former Day 3 draft pick out of Duke who has served as the team’s No. 2 tight end for several years. Gray previously built a reputation as a reliable pass catcher who rarely dropped the ball, but he’s coming off a down year in 2025. He’s hoping for a bounce-back season while continuing to serve as one of Kansas City’s primary blocking tight ends opposite Kelce.

There’s Jared Wiley, another Day 3 pick who hasn’t reached his potential after dealing with a knee injury in 2024. He spent 2025 working his way back without making much of an impact in either the passing or running game for Kansas City. His level of impact is still relatively unknown.

Among the undrafted free agent types, Jake Briningstool generated optimism after seeing first-team reps during mandatory minicamp and training camp a year ago. A nagging hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve and ultimately ended his season before it truly began. He did not play during the 2025 NFL season, despite being designated to return. The team opted against activating him late in a lost season.

Tre Watson, another 2025 undrafted free agent, spent the entire season on the practice squad and has seen meaningful action during the 2026 offseason workout program. Watson worked with the first-team offense alongside Gray and Wiley during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, filling in around absences, and has shown potential as both a blocker and a pass catcher.

Gyllenborg is a longer-term developmental option, someone the Chiefs could be betting on for the future.

2027 NFL free agency still holds options for the Chiefs beyond Kyle Pitts

Pitts has often been linked to the Chiefs as a potential trade target. It made him a natural target in free agency. Some fans will be disappointed he’s off the market, but the reality is that a team like Atlanta was unlikely to let him walk in the first place. He’s not the only big-name tight end to consider in the 2027 free agent class.

Options include:

• T.J. Hockenson of the Minnesota Vikings
• Colby Parkinson of the Los Angeles Rams
• Michael Mayer of the Las Vegas Raiders
• Greg Dulcich of the Miami Dolphins
• Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions
• Brenton Strange of the Jacksonville Jaguars
• Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft of the Green Bay Packers
• Tommy Tremble of the Carolina Panthers

Are they the same caliber of player as Kelce? Not a chance. However, under the tutelage of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and tight end coach Tom Melvin, any of them could develop into meaningful contributors.

The one who catches my eye most is Kraft. With all the money the Packers have had to allocate elsewhere, he feels like a player who could reach the open market and serve as a true successor to Kelce in the passing game. With that being said, signing a free agent means handing out another big, long-term contract. It might be time for Kansas City to direct its investment toward the draft.

The 2027 NFL Draft tight end class could offer long-term answers for Kansas City

The tight end class looks like it could be one of the stronger position groups in the 2027 NFL Draft. With quite a few picks in 2027, Brett Veach could target multiple players to reload at the position group.

Jamari Johnson, who backed up Kenyon Sadiq at Oregon, is widely regarded as the top prospect heading into the 2026 college football season. LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green is a freakish athlete who caught several touchdowns last year. He’s expected to take on an even bigger role under the program’s new coaching staff. Iowa’s DJ Vonnahme is considered the next in the pipeline of Hawkeye tight ends. Duke’s Jeremiah Hasley might be the most well-rounded player of the bunch, making a clear impact in the passing game and the ground game.

A sleeper to consider is Dorian Thomas, a New Mexico transfer now at Cal. He could blow up after a year with QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutule. Peter Clarke, out of Temple, is another intriguing name, given Andy Reid’s long-standing connection to the Owls from his time in Philadelphia. Terrence Carter Jr. from Patrick Mahomes’ alma mater, Texas Tech, presents an unusual case at 27 years old, which will dissuade some teams but could make him a late-round steal who contributes immediately. Ben Brohmer out of Penn State and Lawson Luckie out of Georgia round out a class that gives the Chiefs plenty to choose from.

The path forward for Chiefs GM Brett Veach

Fans shouldn’t get discouraged by Pitts coming off the board. Kansas City will have multiple pathways, and the picture will sharpen as the 2026 season unfolds. The big concern is that a lack of investment at the position this year could lead to the kind of overcorrection from Veach that he’s prone to when a position group underperforms. No matter the route, the Chiefs will have to invest in the tight end position as Kelce’s illustrious career nears its conclusion. The franchise has been spoiled at the position for decades. The question now is whether they can find the next name in that lineage while Mahomes is still the star quarterback.