Travis Kelce (Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs are moving forward with Travis Kelce locked in for one more run, but the bigger question is already taking shape. What comes next? The franchise has secured its present with a one-year, $12 million deal, yet the future at tight end feels far less certain.Kelce, now 36 and entering his 14th season, is closer to the end than the beginning. That reality has not been ignored inside the building. With Kenneth Walker III added and Andy Reid pushing for another title charge, the focus remains firmly on winning now. Still, smart teams rarely wait for a hole to open before filling it.
Travis Kelce successor plans take shape for Chiefs in 2026 NFL Draft
The idea of drafting a successor is no longer speculative. It is practical roster planning. According to Kyle Crabbs, the Chiefs may not address tight end with their top selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the position is very much on their radar.
Crabbs projects Kansas City to prioritize defense early, naming Rueben Bain Jr. as a potential No. 9 pick. “The Chiefs simply sit on their hands and watch Rueben Bain Jr. fall into their lap after Kansas City’s first bad season in 15 years,” he says. “The Chiefs haven’t shied away from rushers who lack length via George Karlaftis and Ashton Gillotte. Bain Jr. is a top talent and would be an awesome ‘best player available’ pick here.
”He also sees secondary help arriving quickly, with Avieon Terrell entering the mix. “Take a bow, Kansas City,” he says. “You trade Trent McDuffie and see a number of other defensive backs leave this offseason and the turnaround is Alohi Gilman and Kader Kohou in free agency to go along with one of the twitchiest corners in the draft waiting on you at No. 29 after gobbling up Rueben Bain Jr. earlier in the first.”Then comes the more subtle move. At No. 40, Crabbs connects the Chiefs to a tight end who is not yet a household name.
Eli Stowers emerges as intriguing long-term fit
Eli Stowers may not carry the same buzz as other prospects, but his profile suggests a player worth patience. “Stowers is an explosive quarterback convert with just three years at the tight end position,” the player’s NFL profile states. “He’s an excellent athlete with long arms but needs to keep filling out his frame.”There is rawness, no doubt. Yet the upside is hard to miss. “Stowers is a natural pass catcher with an outstanding catch radius and massive run-after-catch talent.
While his route-running and contested-catch ability need work, he excels at moving the chains on screens/short catches. He has the speed to threaten downfield against linebackers.”The limitations are clear too, especially as a blocker. Still, the modern game values versatility over tradition. His projection as a pass-catching “F” tight end fits how offenses are evolving.For Kansas City, that matters. Kelce has long been more than a traditional tight end. Finding someone who mirrors even part of that skill set is not easy. It does not need to be immediate either. A year of learning behind one of the best to ever play the position could shape Stowers into something more than a depth piece.And if this truly is Kelce’s final chapter, the Chiefs seem intent on making sure the next one has already begun.
