The Chiefs are giving Travis Kelce a month to make a decision on his future. According to Nate Taylor and Cale Clinton of The Athletic, the Chiefs have set a March 14 deadline for Kelce to commit to the 2025 season.
While Kelce could try to squeeze more time from his team, the Chiefs do have some leverage via the tight end’s impending roster bonus. Kelce is due an $11.5MM bonus on March 15, and it’s no coincidence that the organization wants clarity before that date. Plus, free agency opens on March 10, so the Chiefs are already sacrificing some crucial roster certainty with this ultimatum.
The 2025 campaign will represent the final year of Kelce’s four-year, $57MM extension from 2020. The future Hall of Famer will be attached to a $19.8MM cap hit, more than half of which comes from that aforementioned roster bonus. While the Chiefs would surely welcome back Kelce regardless of the financials, that’s still a hefty cap charge, and our own Nikhil Mehta recently suggested that the front office could look to lower that hit via a cap-manipulating extension.
In his age-35 season, Kelce compiled some of the worst receiving numbers of his career. He finished the year with a career-low 51.4 yards per game, and his three touchdowns also marked a new career-low. Those numbers did see a jump when it mattered, as Kelce hauled in 13 receptions for 175 yards during the Chiefs’ three-game postseason run.
If Kelce does hang up his cleats, the Chiefs could look towards in-house options to fill the void. Former fifth-round pick Noah Gray finished the year with career-highs in receptions (40), receiving yards (437), touchdowns (five), and offensive snaps (664). This year’s TE free agency class mostly consists of complementary players, including Mike Gesicki and Juwan Johnson.
Taylor Swift gave Travis a March 13th as a deadline…..but that is for another matter
I’m surprised the NFL hasn’t made April 29th the official draft day in honor of Taylor swift
She should sing a song
Idiot
Lefty-
Wow. Taylor Swift lives rent-free in your head. You guys are hilarious. You think and talk about TS more than any TS fan I know. It’s embarrassing for you, honestly. Hope this comment helps!
And I thought Phillies …Eagles fans would be in a good mood and have some humor and Never Remember is just bitter
You mentioned Taylor Swift (3x) more than we did in your comment Philly. Look just cause she’s an eagles fan doesn’t mean she’s gonna sleep with you cause you’re defending her on a comment thread she’s never gonna read.
You’re only getting weirder about this.
Ain’t gonna sleep with you either
It’s weird that you think this is even crossing my mind.
Guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy- professor Chang
Easy-
What a weird fantasy to project onto a stranger. You should probably investigate those feelings more, because you obviously have some issues. Hope this comment helps, because you clearly need some.
Uh huh. Its a nice request.
Kelce has the leverage here.
What – they gonna cut him?
Travis Kelce is cooked. KC should just move on
Cut him? No. He has 1 year on his deal.
Draft his replacement like the kid from Bowling Green in the 1st, Harold Fannin Jr? Probably.
Or they’ll at least take a TE in first 3 rounds.
They could also probably sign a veteran TE as insurance like a Gesicki, Ertz.
There will very likely be two tight ends in the first round, Warren and Loveland. I highly doubt Fannin goes in the first.
He’s projected as a late first early 2nd.
Rightfully so.
117 catches 1600 yards 10 TDs.
At 6’4” 230 that runs a 4.5-4.6 teams love those athletic TEs
I don’t know where you’re getting that idea, but I haven’t seen anyone who actually knows what they’re talking about projecting him that high. He’s an H-back type who has gaudy numbers because a small program funneled its entire offense through him. He’s an intriguing prospect, but not a profile that goes in the first round.
That high? Late 1st like 30s to early 2nds like 40s is where many outlets have him ranked prospect wise in their list of best available.
Fannin Jrs best comp coming out of college is Trey McBride who Colorado State funneled their entire offense thru back in the day. And like McBride Fannin Jr is capable of lining up pretty much anywhere. On the line. In the backfield. Behind tackles. In the slot. Outside. He’s a piece you can move around which is why he’s ranked late 1st early 2nd.
And if he goes out and tests well at the combine it’ll definitely push him more towards late first / 30s in the 2nd.
McBride lined up inline much more in college than Fannin has.
And I’m still not sure what outlets you’re citing. Dane Brugler has him at 82. PFF has him at 91. Daniel Jeremiah doesn’t have him in his top 50. Kiper doesn’t even list him as a tight end and has him as his number 2 fullback/H-back. Jordan Reid also lists him as a fullback/H-back and has him number one there.
I’m sure a great combine would help his stock, but he’s not rated as highly as you claim and he’s not the sort of profile that goes in the first round, especially when there are at least two much cleaner tight end prospects in the draft.
Pfn has him at 35
CBS has him at 56
Draftbuzz has him at 52
Draft network has him at 42
You can read where I’m gettin info on him from bleacher report
“Harold Fannin Jr. is a fun, talented, and versatile tight end who expects to be used as a power slot in the NFL.
Fannin Jr. is having an incredible season from a production standpoint. He aligns in multiple positions for Bowling Green’s offense—as the h-back, in the backfield, outside, in the slot, in bunch, and stacked sets. Fannin Jr. brings a strong pass-catching skill set to an NFL offense. He runs good routes against zone and off-man coverages. With good stems, body control, and play strength, he gets open routinely. He does a good job attacking angles and leverages against defenders, giving him cushion/playing from depth.
Fannin Jr. is a three-layer threat in the passing game, effectively impacting the game as a quick/short, intermediate, and downfield receiver.”
link to bleacherreport.com
Yeah, this is not a guy currently projected to sniff the first round.
Late first round / early second
I like how you have to delete words to make your argument. It’s cute. But is different than what I’m saying. If you’re just gonna change what I say don’t even bother responding and wasting both our time.
Ok. I don’t know how to explain integers or player types to you and you seem to struggle with both.
Says the dude who uses kiper mcshay jeremiah to seem credible lmao.
I never said McShay. If you think Brugler and Jeremiah are less credible than the outlets you listed, you’re just wrong.
They are. They’re over paid content publishers really. Their analysis are usually wrong past top 10, they can’t project to save their lives, they’re constantly making up trades for views and clicks that don’t really make sense. The fact you cite them to seem credible I thought was a joke at first like this dude playing.
lol. Ok kid. Good luck with whatever your deal is.
Hey facts hurt. They’re overpaid clickbait writers.
I can see why you like them though. Intellectually they’re right up your alley in terms of content. Easy to read. Not too much thought put into the article. Definitely fit for viewers like you.
I mean, you clearly like to read unpaid young clickbait writers. You should try reading Brugler some time. You obviously never have.
They save 17 million this year if they cut him by that March 14th date. That puts KC in the hunt for another WR. It’s a possibility.
I understand.
Im openly questioning if the Chiefs would cut a franchise icon if he doesn’t make a decision on their timeline.
I don’t think it is as easy decision as some would have you believe.
It’s not but they already overpaid for this season and if he wants to come back, they are going to have to restructure that deal. They are only 5.1 million under the cap and that’s going to the draft picks. They need cap space and his contract is the #1 target in creating some.
So you agree – its still likely Kelce’s decision and timeline?
this is the way it should be.its not fair for a player hold up off-season. that could cost a team when it comes to possible replacements at their position.
It cuts both ways. Is it fair for a GM to string a player along with promises of a new deal, wait until that player has seen his free agent options diminish and then say “We’ve decided we don’t need you after all…good luck”?
Your scenario is still on the player. Nobody is forcing them to watch free agency options diminish as they hope for a new deal.
Set a deadline before free agency. If a deal isn’t reached by then tag me or I’m exploring free agent options.
If your current team hasn’t signed you take the best offer you can get if you’re worried a deal may never come.
Sitting around waiting is your own fault for missing out on ppl that wanted you
Is it fair a player say they agree to sign with a team once free agency opens but then decides to go to another team the day free agency opens? A position thought to be filled is now a hole.
I don’t think anyone should even consider taking a job as a GM if they aren’t prepared to fill holes as that will be one of their main duties. Injuries alone keep a GM very busy finding suitable replacements. The successful GMs always understand the importance of having contingency plans ready for when there is an emergency.
Can’t blame KC for the deadline. Might not be realistic but can’t blame them lol
When you can save 17 million on the 2025 cap, it’s very realistic.
If I was Kelce I would laugh at them. Just draft a Tight End early they are gonna need one soon anyway whether it is this year or next.
Then they are going to laugh at him when the release him. He isn’t untouchable. They already overpaid him for 2024. This request isn’t unreasonable.
Time to hang em up.
You had a good run. Arguably the best TE career of all time. Walking away with some rings
Hot gf
Successful podcast
Maybe you can do Thursday night commentary with Jason for Thursday night games.
But man Kelce just stood there watching Mahomes get demolished by the eagles front 4. Didn’t run around like he usually does. Just stood there looking like what’s the point.
“Arguably the best TE career of all time.” At least you said “arguably”. I think you’d get a LOT of pushback from Gronk fans, among others.
I would throw Tony Gonzalez in there as well as him and travis arent that far from each other in just their KC alone careers. Big difference is the team didnt win superbowls but Tony continued to be a top TE even diminished at his later years with Atlanta.
3 rings
12,000 yards
77 TD catches
2 rushing TDs
He’s up there in terms of who’s the best TE of all time.
Hes certainly the best TE statistically
2013 – 2023.
Gronk was an absolute beast but just couldn’t stay healthy. Only finished with 9200 yards but 92 TDs.
For me greatest TE all time is Antonio gates simply because the dude played basketball all his life, went to college at Kent State to play basketball, didn’t get drafted obviously wasn’t drafted by the NFL and wound up totally 12,000 yards, 116 TDs.
Really revolutionized how teams look at guys more so than Tony G did who was just looked at as a very athletic TE prospect who could play basketball in addition to football but was still a 1st round pick.
With gates I think teams began to look more closely at basketball techniques such as boxing out, positional spacing in zone defense, and moving without the ball as things they could adapt to the NFL.
Gonzalez had 1325 catches, 15127 yards, and 111 TDs. And he did it in a slightly less pass-happy era without Mahomes throwing him the ball. He had Elvis Grbac and Trent Green as his QBs for most of the first half of his career. Solid QBs, but no Mahomes. One year, Gonzalez had 99 catches, 1172 yards and five TDs with Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle as his QBs. The next year, 96/1058/10 with Tyler Thigpen.
Kelce is a top ten, maybe top five TE, but Gonzalez is on another level. So are Gronk and Gates. I’d put Shannon Sharpe above Kelce, too. John Mackey, Ditka, Kellen Winslow, Ozzie Newsome, all in the discussion as well.
I think Kelce is definitely top five, but it’s also a weird position to compare across eras. I think Gronk could have been number one all time if he had stayed healthier. Kelce deserves a lot of credit for the sheer amount of football he’s played. He’s also got the second most playoff receiving touchdowns of all-time at any position.
Taylor’s probly gonna breakup with him
She only dates winners
So he’ll have plenty of time to play 2025
Not that I’m jealous or anything, but MY life decisions almost never come down to, “Do I want to collect over ten million dollars next year or spend a lot more time with my gorgeous girlfriend?”
Travis should say he’s playing in 2025, take his roster bonus of $11.5 million on March 15th, and then retire on March 16th. He can use the $11.5 million (less taxes of course) to buy Taylor a ring and go jet setting for the rest of the year.