There was a little bit of doubt that creeped in for Kansas City Chiefs fans a few days into free agency, but Travis Kelce is coming back for a 14th NFL season in 2026. He wants to end his career on a positive note.
Heading into his age-37 season, this one is expected to be his last. He could keep playing in 2027 if his body feels right, but odds are he will hang up his cleats after this season. With that in mind, the Chiefs have to figure out a long-term plan for after his retirement.
Kansas City doesn’t have a true replacement on the roster, with Noah Gray serving as more of a move, pass-catching tight end and Jared Wiley struggling to develop and make an impact two years into his NFL career.
Could Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon make sense for Chiefs in 2026 NFL Draft?
Thankfully for the Chiefs, the 2026 NFL Draft has several intriguing tight end options for the front office to take a stab at. The most intriguing might very well be Notre Dame’s Eli Raridon, who’s expected to be a mid-round pick despite what many believe is high-end talent.
Injuries are the biggest reason Raridon isn’t being considered as a higher draft pick. Raridon has torn the ACL in his right knee on two separate occasions – once in December of 2021 and then again in October of 2022. Those injuries came early in his Notre Dame career and stunted his development.
He wasn’t truly himself again until 2025, when he caught 32 passes for 482 yards across 12 games. Raridon’s ability to block efficiently, combined with untapped potential as a pass-catcher, makes him an exciting prospect for a head coach like Andy Reid.
At 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, his frame is similar to Kelce’s if he fills it out as he gets older. Kelce also dealt with a knee injury in his early days, seeing his rookie season with the Chiefs cut short by microfracture surgery. It only took a year for Kelce to get on track and start producing like a star.
The Chiefs could essentially redshirt Raridon, use him as a role player in his rookie season, let him learn from Kelce and then hand him the reins once Kelce retires. The question is whether the value lines up with the Chiefs’ picks.
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