The Kansas City Chiefs may begin preparing for life after Travis Kelce as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches. Mock drafts project Kansas City selecting Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers in the second round. With Kelce entering his 14th season alongside quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the move could allow the Chiefs to develop a future successor while maintaining stability at a crucial offensive position. As the Kansas City Chiefs get ready for the 2026 NFL Draft, people have started to talk about what the team’s offense will look like in the future. Veteran tight end Travis Kelce is returning for another season, but the conversation around succession is growing louder inside draft circles. At 36, Kelce remains one of the most productive players at his position, yet the Chiefs appear aware that the window for their longtime offensive centerpiece will not stay open forever.Kelce still led the Chiefs in receiving yards last season with 851 and shared the team lead with five touchdowns. Even so, Kansas City endured a disappointing campaign that ended without a playoff appearance under head coach Andy Reid. As the organization looks to rebound, analysts believe the front office could start preparing for life after its legendary tight end while he finishes the final stretch of a remarkable career.
Chiefs may target Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers as Travis Kelce’s successor
Draft projections have begun pointing toward a possible long-term solution at tight end. According to draft analyst Kyle Crabbs of A to Z Sports, Kansas City could address the position early by selecting Eli Stowers from Vanderbilt Commodores football in the second round.Stowers has steadily built momentum as one of the most intriguing prospects in this year’s class. He caught 1,773 yards and scored 11 touchdowns while playing college football at Vanderbilt. These numbers earned him first-team All-SEC honors and third-team All-American honors. His athleticism and ability to catch the ball have put him near the top of many draft boards. Many ESPN experts say he is the second-best tight end prospect, after Kenyon Sadiq from Oregon.For Kansas City, the logic behind such a move is clear. Kelce has spent more than a decade redefining the tight end position in the offense led by Patrick Mahomes. Over his career, he has piled up 13,002 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns, production that places him firmly among the greatest tight ends in league history and makes him a strong candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Drafting a young player like Stowers would allow the Chiefs to build continuity at a position that has defined their offensive identity. The rookie could develop behind Kelce for a season while learning the system and adjusting to the speed of the NFL.With the draft set to begin on April 23 in Pittsburgh, Kansas City may soon make a decision that shapes the next era of its offense. For now, Kelce remains the centerpiece. But the search for the next star could already be underway.