Chiefs predicted to replace Travis Kelce with Oregon’s TE in 2026 Draft

The Kansas City Chiefs are getting up for a very important offseason, and the future of one of their most famous stars is slowly becoming clear. There are still rumors that Travis Kelce may retire, and early predictions say that Kansas City may already be getting ready for life after the All-Pro tight end. The 2026 NFL Draft could be where that change starts.

Travis Kelce’s uncertain future sparks early succession talk

Kelce hasn't said anything publicly about what he plans to do with his career, but such hints have sparked debate across the league. The 36-year-old is still productive, but the wear and tear of a long career and the Chiefs' poor 2025 season have only made people more curious about how long he will keep playing.

It would be dangerous for a club that wants to stay competitive to wait too long to make plans. That fact has made draft evaluators make the dots early, even if Kelce decides to come back for another season.

Walter Football's draft projections say that the Kansas City Chiefs could utilize a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Kenyon Sadiq, a tight end from Oregon. Because he is so versatile and has a lot of athletic potential, the 6-foot-3, 245-pound prospect has been moving up draft boards.



Even though Sadiq's raw numbers may not stand out, evaluators are still quite keen on his entire profile. He has proved that he can line up all over the field, create mismatches in space, and contribute value after the catch through the 2025 collegiate season. People have compared his speed and ability to execute routes to modern "move" tight ends instead of typical in-line blockers.

What makes Sadiq so interesting to Kansas City is that his skills fit in well with their offensive style. The Chiefs have always needed tight ends who can spread the field, win one-on-one matchups, and be a safe place for the quarterback to throw the ball.



Sadiq isn't the biggest tight end in the class, but he's renowned for being competitive as a blocker and eager to do the hard work. That mix of hard work and speed has made him one of the most talked-about prospects on the Oregon Ducks' team.

If Kelce comes back in 2026, Kansas City could still pick his eventual replacement early, giving the rookie time to learn from a future Hall of Famer. If Kelce quits, the necessity becomes urgent, and the Chiefs would already have a plan in place.

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