In Andy Reid’s offense, the tight end will never be an overlooked position, but do the fans undervalue Travis Kelce’s impact?
Each offseason, we follow in the footsteps of our favorite team and evaluate the roster, position by position. Given the Super Bowl win and the ensuing hysteria, we’re doing so a bit later than ever this year. This is is a schedule we could get used to.
We started with quarterbacks on Monday, running backs on Tuesday, and receivers on Wednesday. Today, we’re taking a closer look at the tight end position and will continue through the rest of the roster over the next two weeks.
In our series, we’ll be asking three primary questions: 1.) What we thought would happen?, 2.) What actually happened?, and 3.) What have we learned going forward?
What we thought would happen at tight end?
Coming into the season, most fans and pundits believed they knew what the Chiefs had in All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce. The 30 year old was entering his seventh season in the league, and coming off an All-Pro selection in 2018 in which he (briefly) set the record for the most receiving yards in a season by a tight end.
The general belief was that Kelce would continue to ascend the ranks of all-time tight end play and that, with the retirement of Rob Gronkowski, he could cement his place as the premier tight end in the entire NFL.
However, many questioned whether or not the Chiefs needed to invest in the TE2 position, citing a lack of experience overall, Kelce turning 30 and fearing injury, and improving pass catching options. Certainly, the departure of veteran Demetrius Harris, without a replacement, would have a negative impact on the team’s offensive production.
Instead, Kansas City opted to come in to the season with almost no experience behind Kelce. Blake Bell had athleticism, but the one time high school quarterback also came in to the year with 30 career receptions spread over four seasons. TE3 Deon Yelder was even less proven, coming off a rookie season in which he saw action in three games but had zero receptions.
This represented a major roll of the dice for Kansas City, and if Travis Kelce was injured at all, let alone for an extended period of time, it would cause massive issues for the offense. People were nervous – because while everyone knew Travis Kelce was an incredible player, it felt as if general manager Brett Veach had no backup plan.
What actually happened?
The five-time Pro Bowler did not disappoint. Kelce started all 16 games for Kansas City for the second consecutive season. In fact, his durability may be his most underrated asset given that he’s now started 78 out of 80 regular season games over the last five season, and has appeared in 95 out of 96 games since his rookie season was non-existent due to injury.
In 2019, Kelce became the first tight end in the history of the NFL to gain over 1000 yards receiving in four consecutive seasons. He also played on 92% of all offensive snaps this season, the 3rd most of any player on the team. While some will still debate whether he is the top tight end in the NFL, and we’ll admit that San Fransisco’s George Kittle is very good, Kelce left little doubt that he is the #1 tight end in football.
What’s more, the TE2 position revealed itself as irrelevant in Andy Reid’s offense. Blake Bell played on less than 40% of the team’s snaps, Yelder “chipped in” with less than 5%, and the pair combined for 11 receptions on 19 targets. Neither particularly stood out in run- or pass-blocking, but also neither were so egregiously bad that we paid much attention. Ultimately, the Chiefs opted to use linemen, Kelce and running backs to block over a second (or third) tight end in nearly every instance.
It cannot be understated how important Travis Kelce was to this team and this offense in 2019. He was the most reliable pass catcher on the team, made very few errors, eliminated mental mistakes which had plagued much of his early career, and served as a emotional catalyst for the comeback runs of the playoffs and Super Bowl.
What we learned?
We learned that Brett Veach is probably a fortune teller. Between the way he evaluated and gambled the tight end position, coupled with the way he approached the running back and cornerback positions, it is almost unfathomable how good (lucky?) he was.
We also learned that the TE2 position that we spent so much time talking about last offseason is functionally irrelevant in Andy Reid’s offense. He is not interested in lining up tight sets or using big bodies across the middle of the field. He is much more interested in using speed, spread and motions to create mismatches and confusion in the defensive secondary, and allowing his All-Pro, Super Bowl MVP quarterback make them pay for every mistake. He is also much more interested in running backs that can block than he is in lining up a second tight end in nearly every instance.
In addition, we learned that Patrick Mahomes is good enough to mask nearly every offensive deficiency a team may have. In plays down the stretch where Mahomes may have benefited from a drop-off security blanket a TE2 may provide, he was able to make most of those plays with his legs. In situations where coverage was so good by the opposing defense that he had limited windows to get the ball to, his accuracy and creativity/vision allowed him to make those throws. As long as Mahomes is the QB in K.C., whatever targets the Chiefs have are good enough.
Finally, we learned that Travis Kelce is a future Pro Football Hall of Famer. The Super Bowl win has cemented his place in Canton, and there is very little left to debate about that. He is the best tight end in the NFL, shows no signs of diminished durability or athleticism, and should be a staple of the Chiefs’ offense for the next several years. Kansas City should consider extending him this offseason to lower his cap hit, and to secure him for the duration of his career.