Kansas City Chiefs sign tight end Nick Keizer to deal for 2020

The Kansas City Chiefs apparently like what they have in tight end Nick Keizer and want to keep him around for the 2020 season.

The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t too concerned with the spaces behind tight end Travis Kelce on the roster. For years the team has been content to allow low-level investments to fight it out for playing time and special teams duty behind their All-Pro starter and, until this point, things have worked out quite well. In the near future it doesn’t look like that approach will be changing.

The Chiefs signed tight end Nick Keizer on Tuesday to a deal that will keep him with the franchise for another year, per Matt Derrick.

Keizer spent all of last season with the Chiefs after signing with them following the 2019 NFL Draft. He was previously with the Baltimore Ravens, but after the team’s considerable investments in the same position, Keizer was cut free. The Chiefs then stashed Keizer on their practice squad all season after he failed to make the active roster.

The Chiefs ended the season with Blake Bell and Deon Yelder as their two backup tight ends, but Bell is scheduled to be a free agent. Yelderwill be making the league minimum or thereabouts if he’s back with the team. The Chiefs hold his rights as an exclusive rights free agent.

Right now, Keizer and Yelder are in place as the primary backup candidates behind Kelce and that gives the Chiefs a lot of familiarity already among those competing for minutes. Alize Mack has also been signed to a reserve/futures deal, giving the Chiefs three players competing for two spots. However, at least one or two more players will likely be added as rosters turn over and the draft takes place.

One name to also remember is David Wells who was also competing for a role before being placed on injured reserve.

Keizer played college football at Grand Valley State and entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2018.