As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare to defend their AFC title in 2025, this season could be Travis Kelce’s last. At age 36, the future Hall of Fame tight end is nearing the end of a legendary career that has redefined the position and helped power the Chiefs to three Super Bowl championships.
Though he opted to return for one more season, all signs point to a looming transition in Kansas City and ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. believes the Chiefs may already have their eyes on the next man up.
In his latest mock draft, Kiper projected that the Chiefs will select Harold Fannin Jr., a tight end who took the college football world by storm in 2024.
“Fannin led the nation in receiving last season with 1,555 yards,” Kiper wrote. “Kansas City could use him in a multitude of ways, and he could even develop into Travis Kelce’s eventual replacement.”
Fannin, an explosive pass-catcher with elite speed and reliable hands, isn’t known for his blocking, but that’s not likely to be a dealbreaker in Andy Reid’s pass-first offense. If drafted, he’d have the rare opportunity to spend a season learning directly from Kelce.
Kelce’s timeline accelerates need for long-term planning
Though Kelce’s production dipped slightly last season, he remains one of the most dangerous tight ends in the league when healthy.
But with retirement chatter heating up each offseason and Kelce embracing more projects outside football, the Chiefs are wisely preparing for life after No. 87.
The team already has Jared Wiley, a promising young tight end entering his second season. While Wiley has potential, the Chiefs may not be ready to hand him the full reins without more competition in the pipeline.
That’s where Fannin fits in as a high-upside, dynamic threat who could split reps with Kelce in 2025 and take over fully by 2026.
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