As we near the 2026 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs could still use some firepower on offense.
They got off to a great start in free agency, signing running backs Kenneth Walker III and Emari Demercado to transform their rushing attack. The Chiefs also re-signed key pass catchers Travis Kelce and Tyquan Thornton.
With more off-the-field question marks surrounding No. 1 wide receiver Rashee Rice, Kansas City would be wise to add more weapons to bolster its passing attack. It could do so during the draft, but there are also some veteran options around the league.
Kansas City Chiefs Named Potential Landing Spot for Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts
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Falcons TE Kyle Pitts catches a touchdown
The Falcons placed the franchise tag on Pitts earlier this offseason. He could play on the tag during the 2026 season or can still be signed to a long-term contract. Another alternative is trading Pitts, which is a possibility with Atlanta having a new general manager and head coach in place.

In addition to that, the Falcons could use more draft capital as they own just five total picks. Moe Moton of Bleacher Report named five teams who could be interested in acquiring Pitts, with the Chiefs coming in at No. 2.
“General manager Brett Veach can acquire Pitts to continue the elite lineage of tight ends in Kansas City’s recent history. Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez played for the team from 1997 to 2008. A handful of years after the Chiefs traded him to the Atlanta Falcons, they selected Kelce in the third round of the 2013 draft. One day, he’ll be in the enshrined in Canton, Ohio as well. The Chiefs could pair Kelce with Pitts, who would take the franchise tight-end baton from the future Hall of Famer. In this scenario, Kelce would likely see a reduced role, which would preserve him for the season. Early in the previous campaign, head coach Andy Reid discussed managing Kelce’s snap count. With Pitts, he can do that and still get production out of the position in his offense.”
Pros and Cons of Chiefs Trading for Kyle Pitts
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Chiefs TE Travis Kelce
There is intrigue and drawback for the notion of Kansas City acquiring Pitts. Any discussion regarding the tight end positions starts with Kelce. On one hand, pairing Kelce with Pitts could be electric and would certainly boost the Chiefs’ passing game. On the other, Kelce is still a productive player, and Kansas City could save the draft capital and money to invest in other areas of its roster.
The Chiefs would have to give up at least one early draft pick to pry Pitts away from Atlanta, then sign him to a lucrative long-term deal. Kansas City already has several large contracts on the books, and another one could limit spending down the road.
The flip side of that argument is that Pitts could be a worthy investment as he is still just 25 years old. He is coming off the best season of his career in 2025, catching 88 passes for 928 yards and five touchdowns, earning him Second-Team All-Pro honors. The Chiefs currently do not have any costly receivers or tight ends on their payroll.