The Kansas City Chiefs will get at least one more season from Tight End Travis Kelce, but what happens in 2027 if he’s enjoying the first year of his retirement? The 2026 NFL Draft has plenty of options to find his successor. In fact, this might be the strongest group we’ve seen in over a decade.
Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon)
He is a 6’3”, 245-pound tight end who spent 3 seasons with Oregon, who had 51 receptions for 560 receiving yards, averaging 11.0 yards per catch and 8 touchdowns. In his whole career, he had 80 receptions for 892 receiving yards, averaging 11.2 per catch and 11 touchdowns.
At the combine, he ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, a 43.5” vertical jump, an 11’1” broad jump, and 26 reps at bench press. Some of his strengths include showing off his speed and ability after the catch, as well as his body control and hand strength to win contested catches. Some of the weakness that sometimes has a blocker he leans forward, and he is also an average pass blocker. I would love for him to be drafted by us and be mentored by Kelce for this year. He is projected to be drafted in the latter half of the first round.
Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt)
He is a 6’4”, 235-pound tight end who spent three seasons with Vanderbilt and New Mexico State. This year, he had 62 receptions for 769 receiving yards, averaging 12.4 yards per catch and four touchdowns. In his whole season, he had 146 receptions for 1,773 receiving yards, averaging 12.1 yards per catch, and had 11 touchdowns.
At the combine, he ran a 4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 45.5” vertical jump, and 11 ‘3” broad jump. Some of his strengths are his route redirection and ability to beat linebackers down the seams; he has the speed to threaten downfield against linebackers. Some of his weaknesses are a lack of special teams experience and a bad habit of letting off the gas and not being able to hit true plays. He is projected to go as an early second-round to late 3rd-round pick.
Dae’Quan Wright (Ole Miss)
He is a 6’4”, 255-pound tight end who spent four seasons with Ole Miss and Virginia Tech. This year, he had 39 receptions for 635 receiving yards, averaging 16.3 yards per catch and having 5 touchdowns. In his whole career, he had 113 receptions for 1,603 receiving yards, averaging 14.2 yards per catch, and had 9 touchdowns.
Some of his strengths include finding openings and opportunities in space, and with his skills, he can stretch the field vertically. He needs to be more consistent in run blocking, and his technique is below average. He’s projected to go in the fifth or sixth round.
Michael Trigg (Baylor)
He is a 6’4”, 240-pound tight end. He played 5 seasons with USC, Ole Miss, and Baylor. This season, he had 50 receptions for 694 receiving yards, averaging 13.9 yards per catch and six touchdowns. In his whole career, he had 108 receptions for 1,419 receiving yards, averaging 13.1 yards per catch and having 14 touchdowns.
Some of his strengths he has become a nightmare for man defenders in the red zone, and he will run past linebackers and beat them in the seam. Some of the weaknesses he can get lazy on the top of the seam, allowing the defender to close out to him, and he is still developing his route tree and struggling with finishing the catch in heavy contact. He is projected as a third or fourth-round draft pick.
