Most Kansas City Chiefs fans aren’t focused on the 2025 NFL Draft, with the team still undefeated through the first eight weeks of the 2024 season.
We’re 176 days away from watching the next generation of Chiefs players reach their NFL dreams.
However, as the college football season enters its tenth week of fifteen, some prospects are beginning to separate themselves as top draft-eligible talent in the upcoming class.
Currently, Kansas City holds the final pick at No. 32 in most early mock drafts as the league’s last undefeated team.
According to recent mock drafts from the A to Z Sports college football team, there’s a bit of consensus on where the Chiefs could find value with their first-round pick.
Tight end stands out as the favored position for Kansas City at the end of Round 1. With future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce appearing to slow down after an incredible streak of 1,000-yard seasons, draft analysts have projected Michigan’s Colston Loveland and Penn State’s Tyler Warren as options for the reigning Super Bowl champions.
Here’s the rationale behind selecting Loveland:
“Travis Kelce is 35 and has only 245 yards this season, so it’s clear the end is coming sooner than later for the future Hall of Famer.
With the position such a massive part of Andy Reid’s offense, Colston Loveland is a natural heir to the throne. The 6-foot-6, 245-pounder plays similarly to Kelce, so there’s reason to believe he can produce early in his career.” – A to Z Sports’ Ian Valentino
And for Warren:
“It feels like Travis Kelce’s days are numbered.
There is some talent behind him with Noah Gray and Jared Wiley, but neither should stop you from grabbing a nearly 6-6, 260-pound athlete with incredible smoothness and catch radius to develop into a big-play pass-catching tight end.” – A to Z Sports’ Ryan Roberts
Yet, this tight end pick for the Chiefs doesn’t sit well with me.
Without diving into the historical data showing that first-round tight ends rarely pan out, adding a player at this position simply doesn’t feel right for a few reasons.
First, the team already invested in Jared Wiley in the 2024 draft. Although he’s navigating a typical rookie learning curve, I’d bet he’ll be much improved by 2025.
Secondly, the Chiefs have signed Noah Gray to a long-term contract, and he’s quietly been one of the most reliable pass-catchers in the league.
Beyond that, Travis Kelce isn’t quite as washed up as many believe after his start to the 2024 season.
Pete Sweeney recently highlighted on X that Kelce’s pace after the Rashee Rice injury is 67 yards per game, putting him on track for over 1,100 receiving yards across a full 17-game season.
Yes, Kansas City should be planning for life after Kelce, but he’s not ready to walk away just yet. He’s under contract through 2026, and barring a major change of heart, I believe he’ll play out his deal.
Looking at the Chiefs’ needs heading into 2025, addressing higher-value positions like DE, DT, CB, WR, OT, or even iOL would be a higher priority in the early rounds than drafting a tight end.
Later in the draft, they could look at underclassmen like Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin Jr., who’s on track for a record-breaking season, or consider players like Iowa’s Luke Lachey, Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson, or Syracuse’s Oronde Gadsden II, who might be better value options.
