The Kansas City Chiefs are facing a pivotal offseason with multiple holes to fill, not only within the coaching staff but also across both offensive and defensive positions, and one of the most pressing concerns could be replacing the team’s leader in nearly every receiving category: Travis Kelce.

With Kelce’s retirement looming after 13 remarkable seasons in red and yellow, Chiefs management and head coach Andy Reid are under pressure to identify a long-term replacement at tight end before the start of the 2026 campaign, ensuring the offense maintains its high-level continuity.

Inside the building, there had been hope that players like Noah Gray, Jared Wiley, or Jake Briningstool could develop into the eventual successor for the future Hall of Famer, taking over as Patrick Mahomes’ primary target and maintaining the tight end’s historic production.

However, those internal options have so far failed to live up to the potential required to seamlessly step into Kelce’s shoes, leaving the Chiefs with a clear need for a proven, reliable tight end who can handle both the receiving and blocking responsibilities in a high-powered offense.

Enter Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet, whose stock rose dramatically with one of the most exhilarating plays in recent NFL postseason history, drawing attention from teams across the league and potentially positioning him as the perfect candidate for Kansas City.

Kmet’s combination of experience, reliability, and recent production makes him an intriguing option, particularly for Andy Reid, whose offensive philosophy historically favors veteran players who bring consistency and knowledge to the field rather than relying solely on raw talent.

Originally drafted 43rd overall by the Chicago Bears in 2020, Kmet has played 100 career games and impressively has never missed more than one game in any of his six seasons, demonstrating durability and resilience that would appeal to any coach prioritizing availability.

Just like Kelce, Kmet’s greatest asset might be his consistency and presence on the field, qualities that have helped him become a dependable target for quarterbacks over multiple seasons and a potential anchor for a Chiefs offense in transition.

In addition to his durability, Kmet’s experience playing alongside young star Caleb Williams in Chicago could be highly valuable; exposure to Williams’ improvisational style and backyard-football-esque plays has helped Kmet develop adaptability and situational awareness that translate well to NFL offenses like Kansas City’s.

Williams, often referred to as “the next Patrick Mahomes,” has already displayed an ability to extend plays and create opportunities outside the standard playbook, suggesting that Kmet’s skill set could seamlessly integrate with the Chiefs’ current offensive scheme under Reid and returning coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

For Reid, Kmet’s combination of experience, durability, and versatility in both receiving and blocking makes him a strong candidate to assume a Kelce-like role, providing immediate impact while also serving as a mentor for younger players in the tight end room.

Of course, one key question remains: why would Chicago consider trading a productive, experienced tight end like Kmet if he fits so well within their offense, which is centered around Caleb Williams and a talented group of wide receivers?

Bears general manager Ryan Poles is savvy and well aware of Kmet’s value, understanding that his stability and reliability contribute significantly to the team’s current offensive success, and any decision to move him would require strategic consideration and appropriate compensation.

Kmet has been with Chicago for six seasons, weathering coaching changes and front office turnover before Poles arrived, giving him institutional knowledge that is both rare and valuable for teams seeking an experienced player to immediately step into a high-pressure role.

Poles has already shown a willingness to facilitate deals benefiting Kansas City, most notably in the early 2025 trade for Joe Thuney, which demonstrates the existing relationship and trust between the Chiefs’ front office and the Bears’ management.

Furthermore, Chicago has depth ready to step up if Kmet is traded, notably in rookie tight end Colston Loveland, who led the Bears in targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns by the end of the 2025 season, signaling a clear succession plan at the position.

Loveland’s readiness ensures that Kmet’s departure would not cripple the Bears’ offense, giving Poles additional leverage to negotiate a trade while also maintaining team performance and supporting a youth movement around Caleb Williams.

From a financial perspective, moving Kmet could free up significant cap space for Chicago, with $10 million off the books in 2026 and up to $23 million across the final two years of Kmet’s $50 million deal, providing additional incentive to consider a trade if the price is right.

Fans may initially balk at Kmet’s $12.5 million annual salary, but compared to Kelce’s $17.125 million in 2025, the difference is manageable for the Chiefs, especially if it allows the team to move on from underperforming options like Noah Gray, freeing up over $10 million in cap space.

Statistically, Kmet mirrors Kelce in several ways, particularly in hands and reliability; entering the 2025 season, Kmet posted a 73.5 percent catch rate, slightly higher than Kelce’s 72.7 percent, proving his ability to convert targets consistently in critical situations.

Kmet’s blocking ability also stands out as a major plus, boasting an average run-block grade of 61.36 over the last five years compared to Kelce’s 56.86, according to PFF metrics, which would be particularly useful with Eric Bieniemy returning as offensive coordinator next season.

While Kelce retains a statistical edge in yards per reception and overall yardage, Kmet’s youth, at 26 (turning 27), and availability make him a strong candidate to gradually grow into Kelce’s role and potentially surpass him in certain aspects of team contribution over the coming years.

The Chiefs’ front office, led by GM Brett Veach, should actively monitor Kmet’s situation with the Bears, as he could be an ideal fit for the team’s immediate and long-term needs at tight end while maintaining the competitive edge in Patrick Mahomes’ passing attack.

Whether Kelce retires after 2025 or extends into 2026, keeping Cole Kmet on the radar provides the Chiefs with a strategic option capable of delivering proven production, leadership, and continuity at a critical offensive position.

The combination of Kmet’s experience, statistical reliability, youth, and familiarity with quarterbacks who thrive in improvisational play makes him a blueprint candidate for succeeding Kelce, offering both immediate contribution and long-term upside.

As the Chiefs navigate offseason roster decisions, trade discussions, and cap management, Kmet emerges as one of the few tight ends in the league who could realistically step into Kelce’s shoes without a significant drop in overall team performance.

Ultimately, the relationship between the Chiefs and Bears front offices, Kmet’s contract structure, and his proven durability all position him as a prime target to address the most pressing hole in Kansas City’s roster heading into 2026.

If a deal is structured correctly, Cole Kmet could be the next tight end to wear red and gold, bridging the gap between a future Hall of Famer and the next generation of playmakers in one of the NFL’s most potent offensive systems.