With playoff contention out of the question, the Kansas City Chiefs don’t have a ton left to play for. That isn’t stopping head coach Andy Reid’s team from fighting hard, but their net result won’t matter a ton in the standings.
Two major puzzles remain unsolved. First and foremost, where will Kansas City pick in the 2026 NFL Draft? Secondly, is tight end Travis Kelce returning for another season in 2026 or hanging up the cleats for good? Neither answer is obvious right now, but both will be revealed in due time.
As the calendar soon flips to 2026, one outlet is tying the two storylines together.
Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq Projected to Chiefs in 2026 NFL Mock Draft
In a Christmas Day mock for USA Today, Ayrton Ostly sends Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq to the Chiefs. He views the talented pass catcher as a suitable successor to Kelce.
It’s the perfect gift for this time of year.
“The Chiefs’ offense lacks a dynamic weapon in the passing game,” Ostly wrote. “If they’re not going to invest in the running game, Sadiq is the best gift we could give the Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes at this point of the first round. He’s an impressive vertical threat and just 20 years old with plenty of room to develop into a top tight end in the league.”
Sadiq, a junior for the Ducks, has turned in a career campaign. Entering the program’s second-round College Football Playoff game, he’s hauled in 42 passes for 509 yards and 8 touchdowns. A solid 12.1 average yards per catch has him flying high on draft boards. He turned in performances of 40+ yards in half his games thus far.
Advanced metrics also like Sadiq’s production. According to Game on Paper, he ranks 165th out of 684 qualified pass catchers in EPA per target at 0.48. His 55.1% success rate is tied for 161st. Pro Football Focus credits him with a 74.1 offensive grade, good for fifth among 25 tight ends with 50+ targets.
The NFL Mock Draft Database, which compiles consensus big boards based on several national rankings and mocks, has Sadiq 19th. That’s beyond where the Chiefs are projected to pick, so perhaps the exciting tight end could be an option come April.
Is 2025 Travis Kelce’s Final Season in Kansas City & NFL?
Much of the Sadiq probability could come down to Kelce’s decision. Should he return for a 14th season, it’d make finding an immediate replacement less of a pressing issue. If he does retire, however, the Chiefs would be in a tough spot.
It isn’t like the future Hall of Fame man can’t play high-level football anymore. Despite having 24 fewer receptions than last year, he’s amassed more yards (839 to 823) and 2 more touchdowns (5 to 3). His 11.5 yards per target is his highest mark since 2022. His 63.7% success rate is his highest since 2020.
Kelce can still contribute at a high level. Does he want to? Following the Chiefs’ Christmas Day loss to the Denver Broncos, Kelce responded to whether he thought about that game being his final one at home. He didn’t seem too fazed by it.
“No, the only time it every crossed my mind [was] as I was driving in the other day and I saw how much the Powerball was and I was like, ‘Man, if I could just win that, I wouldn’t have to work another day in my life,’” Kelce said. “Honestly, I’ve been just focused on trying to win football games. I’ll let that be a decision that I make with my family, friends [and] the Chiefs organization when the time comes.”
Defensive tackle Chris Jones, who spoke to the media after Kelce, pleaded for his legendary teammate to keep playing.
“I hope not man, dang,” Jones said when asked about a potential Kelce retirement. “We just have been through so much together and Travis has been a pivotal point in this offense for so long, and he’s been like a brother, man. To watch Trav go, I hope this isn’t his last year, I hope he gives it one more year. Just one more.”
The next few months will feature plenty of reflection for both Kelce and the Chiefs.
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