The Kansas City Chiefs have lived in a world partly shaped by Travis Kelce for more than a decade. He’s been the heartbeat of Andy Reid’s passing game and Patrick Mahomes’ most trusted playmaker.
But he’s also 35, and while he hasn’t fallen off a cliff, the reality is unavoidable: the Chiefs need to start thinking seriously about what a post-Kelce existence could look like for Mahomes and company.
There’s also the personal side to consider. Kelce’s engagement to pop superstar Taylor Swift has kept him in the headlines almost as much as his football career, and it’s fair to wonder how much that might influence his future decisions.
With this in mind, Samuel Teets of Chiefs Wire has an intriguing suggestion for a potential replacement.
TE Kenyon Sadiq Pitched as Travis Kelce Replacement for Chiefs
GettyWould Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq be the perfect replacement for Travis Kelce?
“When Kelce decides to retire, the Chiefs need to have his successor in place. The 2026 NFL draft lacks elite talent at tight end, except for projected top 100 picks Max Klare and Kenyon Sadiq,” Teets wrote on September 8, adding:
“Sadiq is one of the top athletes in the 2026 draft. He appeared at No. 11 on Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List for The Athletic, which highlights the most athletic players in college football. Sadiq pairs the size of a tight end with the movement skills and burst of a wide receiver, making him one of the top mismatch creators in the sport.”
Sadiq’s trajectory at Oregon thus far has been one of steady growth, which is usually the best kind. The Ducks used him sparingly his first year—he had five catches for 24 yards—but he made them count, scoring a touchdown in the Fiesta Bowl.
In 2024, his snap count ballooned to over 600, and he finished with 24 catches for 308 yards and two touchdowns, both coming on the biggest stage of the Big Ten Championship.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, Sadiq has repeatedly shown he can stretch the seam and win matchups against safeties. Early in his 2025 campaign, he’s got 3 catches for 60 yards and a touchdown in September alone.
What stands out most, though, is the way Oregon has used him: in-line, in the slot, out wide and even on jet sweeps. Plus, check out this sheer athleticism:
Life After Travis Kelce Will Look Very Different for the Kansas City Chiefs
In all honesty, nobody is going come into Kansas City and be “the next Travis Kelce.” That player doesn’t exist. But what Chiefs coach Andy Reid and Mahomes need is someone who can keep the playbook wide open. Sadiq’s background as a receiver-turned-tight end makes him a natural fit.
The beauty of drafting a player like Sadiq is timing. Kansas City wouldn’t need him to come in and replace Kelce immediately. They could run plenty of 12 personnel, use him in red-zone packages and let him work next to Kelce for a year or two. That would set up the Chiefs with a seamless transition at a position that’s been central to their dynasty.
The financial side is appealing, too: a rookie contract at tight end would give Kansas City more flexibility elsewhere on the roster.
Kelce’s greatness won’t be duplicated anytime soon, but Sadiq has the potential to become the kind of safety valve Mahomes could fall back on if — or when — Kelce retires. The Oregon TE may not be a household name yet, but the Chiefs should be watching him closely.
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